Oh wow! A chapter! How did that happen? Well, anyone that reads this has my gratitude. If you comment, I will try to get back to you. Though I must admit I am a bit shy so I use the private message feature for RRL. . . I bet some of you didn't even notice I sent you a message. . . orz. 

. . .It's cool. . . I don't mind. . . no really I-I-I'm fine TT^TT.

So, everyone please comment or send me a message or respond if I send you a pm. Those little things make me happy! 

I am rambling aren't I? Sorry, I have been awake for 19 hours. Not breaking any world records or anything but I am tired so please forgive this foolish author :boworpushups:

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Seria finally reported to the greenhouse; which, like the rest of the headquarters, was underground. It was a tad humorous, growing vegetation underground that is. The location was far from one of the most necessary elements of most plant life, the sun. 

The dark elf examined the gardens. Seria, used to the unusual now, wasn’t surprised to see that the plants here were thriving. Green as far as the eye could see, the ceiling was fitted with sunstones, and special covers that could be remotely activated to dim the lights. 

Seria counted herself fortunate that she wasn’t asked to replace these stones, not at that height. She was certain that anything without wings wouldn’t be able to reach that high. Well, she couldn’t be certain with this group, walking on walls might be normal for them.

She trailed down a barely visible brick path that was already overgrown with vines and creepers, searching for this alchemist that she was supposed to report to. 

As she wandered, her eyes casually glanced at her surroundings. Eventually she reached a break in the foliage. The change wasn’t much just a slightly hollowed out space amongst the green. It was unnoticeable, until she saw that out from the base of the hollowed out space was a pair of bare feet sticking out onto the path. 

First, she was shocked, then she panicked, her eyes looking everywhere for someone to help. Unfortunately, she was by herself so she steeled her will and gathered the courage to run over and check. 

The sight that greeted her was striking, a figure made entirely of light shaded hues. The person’s garments and skin were both white, and the bright shade reflected all light in a way that made their figure glow slightly amongst the leaves.

Laying within the tall foliage was a person with a petite frame, clothed in an oversized white lab coat that obscured the person’s gender. Thick, messy, sandy locks fell on their forehead, just past their eyes. The person’s skin was an unhealthy pale color. 

Frightened, Seria bit her bottom lip as she faced off against her indecision. She knelt beside the person, shaking their shoulders as hard as she dared. Fear gripped her and her imagination, several terrible scenarios played through her mind. 

“Wake up! Please wake up!” Her words were hushed, as if she were afraid that her voice could cause harm as well. 

“What should I do? What can I do?” Seria could only ask herself these questions. She didn’t know how to treat this person if they were injured.

She looked around again this time to see if she can go find help. Her eyes widen in disbelief as she realizes that she had gotten herself lost, everything now looked the same. Sure, she was next to the path, but she had passed by several forks in the path on her way there. There was no way of telling exactly where she came from.

This time she starts shaking the person harder, disregarding the possibility that shaking them might cause things to get worse, “Please! Wake up! I beg you please!”

“Mmmm.” To Seria’s relief, the person made a soft moan, alive then.

The person blinked their eyes blearily a few times, Seria noticed that the person’s lashes were extremely long, and framed icy blue eyes.

“Ah, you must be Seria.” They strange person wore a passive expression, their eyes still dreamy. The person unsteadily got to their feet wobbling back in forth as they walked. 

“Ummm, are you okay?” Seria asks timidly, her panic now receding.

The person gives Seria a strange look, “Huh? Yeah, besides a slight ringing in my ear.” The person lazily picked at their ear with their pinky finger, as if they were trying to drive out a noise.

Seria turns red from embarrassment, “S-sorry, I wasn’t sure if you were alive or not.”

The person gives a condescending look at Seria, “What a strange mammal you are. I thought creatures with two legs were meant to be more intelligent. You could have easily checked my breathing or heart rate.There was no need to tear me away from my break with my children.” 

Seria looks around, “Children?”

The person spreads their arms in an all encompassing motion, “These,” she gestures to the plants, “are my children, all of them were raised by me and only me.”

The person unceremoniously yawned while waving Seria to follow. Seria was still worried and held her hands up to catch the person in the case that they fell. 

Seria starts to piece together what the strange person said, “Um. . . Are you Tetsuki?” Seria nervously asked, not quite sure if the person was alright. 

“Hai~” The person lazily answered and continued to meander the grounds, leading Seria through several paths that soon blurred in her memories.

“Um, Tetsuki, I am afraid I don’t know much about plants.” Seria nervously voiced her concern.

“No worries~ most people wouldn’t know the first thing about the children living here. You’ll learn.” Tetsuki just waved away her objection nonchalantly.

Eventually, they reached a pavilion covered in foliage and flowers. Beneath it were several tables arranged in a haphazard manner. There was paper, books, and scrolls everywhere. The writings covered the tables chairs, ground, and some larger pieces were even pinned up to the supports for the structure.

It was overwhelming to say the least. Tetsuki pointed towards a corner of the pavilion that was no different from any other. “Start reading here, once you have gone through all the materials let me know and I will test your knowledge. After that I will take you to the area corresponding with those children.”

Seria walked over, a little sorrowful from the prospect of going through the mountains of information. “Will I be doing any care for the plants-”

Tetsuki cut her off, “Children.”

A little perturbed Seria corrected herself, “For the children today?”

Tetsuki held her chin thoughtfully, “Hmm, most of these kids need special care.” She paused for a moment, “Well, I suppose you can water the children towards the entrance, they need little maintenance and are used to supply a floral shop, there should be no issue. If they don’t have flowers don’t water them, I will take care of their needs personally.”

Seria nodded her head and set herself at the task of combing through several disorganized piles of text and information.

She opened the first book and was about to start studying when she realized that the book had several pages torn out of it. “I feel a headache coming on.” Seria confirmed after going through several books at random that Tetsuki has a habit of taking pages from one place and putting them somewhere, somewhere she didn’t know. 

It wasn’t a problem at first, until she started reaching portions of the text where it was emphasizing very specific and detailed methods of insuring the plants survival. . . or the caretakers survival. . . 

To make matters worse, Seria was not exactly gifted when it came to reading. Her life thus far did not require much reading or studying. As a result, the skill that she developed as a child was rarely used and began to decay due to lack of use. 

Eventually, she got fed up with the growing migraine and decided to take a break to water the flowers. It only took a little while for her to fall into a steady rhythm, meticulously watering flowers.

It was an enjoyable endeavor,  no maniac assassins running around, nearly bowling her over. No crazy beastkins or demi-humans treating her like a doll or a toy, and no overbearing slave-driving Lyka piling on extra, unreasonable work. 

For the first time since she arrived at Vanps she was relaxing and enjoying herself. She could see why people would take the time to start a garden.

As she walked leisurely through the greenhouse she noticed a lone tree standing in solidarity away from any other plants. It was a strange sight. There was no greenery or vegetation anywhere near it. The ground around it was barren all around it in a rough radius of five meters. 

The strange tree had brown, shriveled pods attached all over the branches, always near the end of the branches. A stoned tablet was engraved and propped against the tree, it read “Cannabaloid”. Seria felt a brief hint of sadness, for someone to be buried down here. . .it was a sad sight.

Out of respect for the deceased she grabbed a handful of poppies and approached the stone tablet.

Tetsuki appeared from the foliage at that moment, probably to check up on her new charge. When she saw the flowers in the girl’s hands she panicked.

“Hey Seria, don’t!” Seria quickly turned to see Tetsuki rushing towards her, in her surprise she dropped the flowers. Suddenly, she felt the air near her whistle as several objects flew past her at high speeds. 

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Falling from her feet, Seria whipped her head back to try and find what had flew past her. Much to her shock, she saw that the flowers that she had dropped were nowhere to be seen. Creaking sounds eerily radiated from the branches of the previously stationary tree that was now slowly moving back into position.

“Wh-what?!” Seria cried in shock. She couldn’t comprehend what just happened. Her entire body was shaking.

When Tetsuki reached her and placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “This tree is a cannabaloid, a species known for devouring others for their nutrients, you are lucky you dropped those flowers. Those feeding pods have been known to tear away flesh if it is in the way of it’s food.” The crazy woman just casually mentioned this as if it was no big deal.

The color drained further from Seria’s face with each word spoke. “That’s it,” she thought, “I think I will stay in the pavilion. . .” 

It was sufficient to say that Seria was downright terrified of the greenhouse now. In her heart she felt she would rather be abused with upkeep of the headquarters than to work in the greenhouse.

Though, she didn’t get a say in the matter. . .

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Hours later Tetsuki leaves her children for the night. Leaving the door to the greenhouse secured, she maneuvers the halls of the facility with practiced ease, albeit, in an airy manner that would leave observers wondering if she was really all there in her head.

She comes to a place that Seria would have recognized as the meeting room she first visited when she first arrived at Vanps. 

Unlike Seria, Tetsuki casually enters and joins the group at the table. 

Lyka had his nose buried in papers, a quill in his hand rapidly scribbling plans, drawing maps, completing orders, or signing off on missions. Without looking up he addresses the new addition to the table, “How was she?”

Tetsuki addresses him in a harsh manner, her words icy and indifferent, “Fine, the children like her, even though she does not release any energy, they can feel her natural affinity for nature.”

Lyka pauses his writing, “Will she work?”

Tetsuki leaned back in her chair her gaze casually looking at the other faces at the table. “For now, I will have to see how she learns, Diam will have to tutor her though, I don’t want to waste time on bipeds.”

A snakekin that Seria would have recognized as Endorph nodded his head, “I can make time for her, but you need to give me free reign to pull her away from her work. I would need to teach her when I am around. Endorph doesn’t necessarily arrive on a schedule. That fellow is good at learning, but terrible at teaching.”

Ret, who was also at the table rolled his eyes and said, “No, really? We never noticed!”

Lyka nodded his head in understanding, he didn’t really need the reminder. As the man that ran the group he was well versed with everyone’s. . .unique circumstances.

“Claire, you will be responsible for notifying her.”

Claire merely nodded her head with a simple smile as she continued to attend to her nails, neglecting to comment.

Lyka spoke to Tetsuki again, “Did anything of note happen?”

“Umm, well, that person nearly got a hand taken off by a cannabaloid earlier.” Tetsuki casually mentioned the event, obviously presenting her lack of concern about Seria’s traumatizing incident.

“Oh? Please elaborate.” Lyka raised an eyebrow at this. Incidents with plants like Tetsuki’s didn’t normally stop at ‘nearly’.

“Well, she brought a bouquet of poppies near the child.” Tetsuki paused for a moment as if remembering something, “Strangely, that child didn’t notice the flowers until after the girl dropped them. I might need to check up on the child and see if it’s feeling alright.” Of course, Tetsuki meant the tree when she said this last sentence of concern. Animals and people of any kind were beyond her sympathy.

Lyka looked at another person at the table, “Abigail, do you have any thoughts about this matter?”

The little foxkin was currently sitting on Ret’s lap, having her head pet with half closed eyes.

She responded though, “Her energy. . . is different. . .”

“In what way?” Lyka was curious now.

Abigail tilted her head cutely as she tried to think of how she should explain it. “Most people. . . energy flows in outward direction. . .” She held her hands at her chest then expanded them outwards to match her words. “Seria’s flows in.” In the same manner as before she held her hands away from herself then dragged them in.

Lyka posed a question, “She absorbs energy?”

If this was the case then Seria’s case was more interesting than he originally thought.

Abigail shook her head, “No. . .More like. . . the her lack of energy pulls in the aura of items with energy near her. . . hides it. Won’t work with living things. . .items though. . .will be hidden.”

Lyka had a look of revelation at the idea, “That would certainly explain why the plant-”

“Child.” Tetsuki interrupted.

Lyka waved her off, “Like I said, the plant did not notice the poppies until they were released from her sphere of influence.” Lyka finished thought, ignoring the obvious glare Tetsuki was aiming in his direction.

Lyka now sported a cunning grin, “This is perfect, her practical uses just expanded into operations.” 

Then he had a tiny revelation. If it was Abigail, it is impossible she did not notice. “Abigail, why didn’t you mention this unique constitution of hers sooner?”

Abigail gave Lyka a passive glance and shrugged, “You. . . never asked.”

Lyka’s shoulders slumped slightly. He felt a sense of defeat at that statement, but he resigned himself to the situation. After all, what did he expect from a member of Vanps? He muttered something under his breath, “Stupid legal loli.” 

With her heightened sense of hearing, Abigail heard the insult and glared at Lyka, “Bad. . .to mention a woman’s age. . .”

Lyka just waved it off and changed the topic. He got his jab in and quickly retreated. There were several issues that needed to be handled and getting drains wasn’t going to help any of them. “Well, it’s fine for now, but if you notice anything else unique about her then you must tell me right away!” He couldn’t change the past but he could set conditions for the future. 

Abigail tilted her head slightly, “Okay. . .Seria also doesn’t like red meat. . . but she is okay with fish and birds. . .and she only changes her work clothes once every two days. . .and her boobs are bigger than Ret says they are.”

Lyka stops her, “Okay, how about this, tell Ret first and he can decide what is important enough to tell me.”

Ret raises his hand and blurts, “I think Abi’s wrong about her boobs! I am certain that they are only B cups!”

“And! The information that is important needs to be relevant to missions!” Lyka added more terms, a bit frustrated with the brother sister duo.

“Boobs are important! How can she work undercover if she doesn’t have the right sex appeal!” Ret vehemently defended his position.

“MOVING ON!” Lyka forcefully changed the topic, “Diam, you will be teaching Seria about the greenhouse first and basic etiquette lessons when you have additional time.”

He turned to Tetsuki, “We need another batch of the usual potions, poisons, and sleeping draft.”

Tetsuki simply nodded, arms crossed and still pouting that Lyka refused to acknowledge her plants as ‘children’.

“Claire, manage the upstairs project. The company needs a face that is good for ‘social’ occasions to act as the head. Our group was fine for a while, but several nobles and merchant groups have been requesting to meet the president of the company. You are the most suited to act as a figurehead and a negotiator.” 

Lyka might run all the businesses, legitimate or not, but he did not have a face he could reveal in public. Claire, although a vampire, could easily pass as human and even use her special ‘charm’ to enhance their group’s business.

“Understood, just have my paperwork and credentials prepared for when I go topside.” Claire simply agreed, she was used to roles like these.

“And you two!” Lyka turned his attention to the trouble making duo, “Don’t make anymore trouble! You are on probation for two months!”

Ret shrugged and Abigail pouted. The sibling pair caused quite a bit of issues during the incident involving Seria. Issues that Lyka was still trying to manage. Unless he was in desperate need for their specific talents, the two of them were not going up for anything.

Lyka rubbed the bridge of his nose, doing his best to fight his perpetual migraine. He thought to himself, “At least Seria will prove to be quite useful.” The cunning grin appeared again and somewhere in the base Seria felt a chill run up her spine.

Nile gently tugged on Lyka’s shirt, “What about me?” His eyes were wide and hopeful.

“Hm? Oh, I forgot you were here, just stay out of everyone’s way.” Nile’s smile cracked, he retreated to the corner where he huddled his knees in a pitiful and depressed manner. Lyka proceeded to ignore him, again.