Leaning closer, Father Lorel urged Ulrich to speak in the presence of the Night Goddess. He’d imagined pushing Father Lorel away, seeing as the man was getting extremely close. However, that would be quite impolite, so Ulrich ignored the close-up breath on his face and began recounting.

  He started with the negotiation deal, Terry Mondie's shadow, Operation Ursus, and finally, an unknown pursuer that followed him. By the time he finished, Father Lorel offered no statement or remark. That otherworldly yet soothing smile rested on his face, like it had been for an eternity.

  With a waving motion of his arm, Father Lorel led Ulrich down toward the secret tunnel beneath St. Samuel.

  The secret tunnel beneath the Cathedral had been here for goddess knows how long. There was a complex mix of damp earth, minerals, rust, and mildew; all making his nose itchy and uncomfortable.

  “Just keep moving down this tunnel.” He said, pointing at the dark corridor.

  Am I the only one down here…?

  It was dark, too dark. For a second, Ulrich thought he was back in the shadow realm, and yet, he wasn’t. Fortunately, the Blessing of the Shadow allowed him to see ahead.

  “Thank you, father.” He tipped his hat with a friendly smile, then tapped his chest thrice. “Praise the Mother.”

  Father Lorel repeated after him, tapping his chest thrice.

  …

  The tunnel was vertically challenged. Made precisely enough for an average height male to pass through, and fortunately, he was average in height. By the time Ulrich reached the other end, a door stood facing him.

  A metal door… I expected no less from the Ministry!

  Raising his hand, he produced three long knocks. Thick and heavy, that’s what he’d describe it. Just tapping his knuckle on the door made it numb and tingly, the same kind of feeling you’d get when your feet fell asleep.

  “Who is knocking?” A voice came through from the other side. Immediately, Ulrich recognized it was Victor.

  Ulrich slammed his fist against the door, not out of anger, no, far from it. He’d only done so to startle the man, and for his own amusement.

  “Captain! There’s a ghost in St. Samuel's tunnel!” Victor yelled, his voice carrying far in the hall from behind the door.

  From a distance, another voice came, sounding more concerned and worried. “A ghost?”

  Heh, this guy is quite fun to mess with. Ulrich coughed, noticing the peephole raised against the door.

  “Open it. That’s Ulrich behind the door,” Captain Ottis said after looking through the hole.

  With that said, the door opened slowly, letting out loud groans and creaks that echoed in the narrowed tunnel. Ulrich took a step forward, or rather, he tried to, only to be stopped by Victor.

  “Why did you slam the door?”

  He shrugged, leaving Victor speechless. Now that Ulrich had arrived, Captain Ottis gathered everyone in the spare lobby room of the Sanctuary, located closest to the entrance that connects the Company to the Sanctuary.

  The room itself was modest in size, perhaps twenty feet across, with a vaulted ceiling that rose just high enough to avoid feeling oppressive. A heavy wooden table dominated the center, its surface scarred and ink-stained from countless briefings and hurried reports in the past. Around it laid mismatched chairs—some Ministry-issued and rigid, others clearly salvaged from elsewhere, their cushions worn thin by years of abuse.

  Hell, the cushion was so old he'd rather not sit his bottom on it.

  “It’s good to see all of you. This is the first time we’ve gathered like this in a long while.”

  Captain Ottis looked in the room, noting everyone’s face.

  Ulrich, Victor, Rosaline, and Erwin were present. As for Freddy, he couldn’t leave his position in the Repository; that’d be too dangerous and irreponsible. Everyone gathered here was the main force available, not accounting for the Weavers and personnel who oversee the other district.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Either way, Ottis believed that with him and Rosaline present, no matter how mysterious and powerful this Terry Mondie was, it’d be impossible to contest against a Keeper and Captain of the Ministry.

  “I’m sure you must have heard, Operation Ursus.”

  They nodded.

  “The goal of this operation is simple. Capture the target. If it’s not possible...” He paused, looking at Ulrich in particular. His gaze was piercing, a bit cold and malicious for someone who was supposed to fight and protect the people against supernatural threats.

  “If it’s not possible, kill him. Even if it means giving up your life!”

  In that moment, Ulrich's heart pounded. Inspired? No, that wasn’t it. He knew the Ministry took pride in their work; they believed in the Mother, ‘her’ ears and watchful gaze. In some way, it reminded him of the zealots and stories of people sacrificing their lives for the ‘greater purpose’. Gu Lan was the first who came to mind.

  Maybe we're all madmen trying to find our own peace... He kept those words in his heart, not daring to express them aloud.

  Clearing his throat, Captain Ottis habitually reached for his smoking pipe, only to stop midway. A bit embarrassed, he continued, hoping that no one paid it much attention.

  “Victor will be responsible for reconnaissance. As a Galebreather, none of us will best him in this department.” Saying so, he glanced at Ulrich, “He’ll be paired with Ulrich. The information gathering ability of a Galebreather combined with a Seer’s divination is the most optimal combination for investigating from afar.”

  Out of habit, he raised his head, staring at the ceiling, as though to recall the important details.

  Captain… This important matter cannot faze your ability to forget… Truly— He wanted to say metal for brain, but since Captain Ottis was a Metalsinger, wouldn’t that be an offensive insult?

  Forget it.

  “Rosaline and I will be the ones doing the heavy work. Erwin will be on standby, in case something goes wrong and need treatment.”

  Rosaline had a smile on her face, one that Ulrich was too familiar with. However, with a closer look, there was a sharpness in her eyes; cold as a blade, ready to cut down anything in its path. Out of every single person in this room, Ulrich had deemed Rosaline the most dangerous Weaver among the bunch.

  Finally, Captain lowered his voice, warning everyone ominously.

  “Remember, this person is suspected of being related to the Twilight Order. Act with utmost caution!”

  …

  Nightfall had descended on Belham by the time the Ministry member had entered Portsmouth. More specifically, they had encircled the Port area, their position scattered across the dock. The building was tilting, most likely intended. It resembled the leaning ruins in the shadow realm. This wasn’t the first time that Ulrich and Victor had been to this area; as a matter of fact, it should be their third.

  Even then, the heaviness in their chest, as well as the weight felt no less heavy, perhaps feeling even heavier than their first time stepping onto this dock. Of course, Portsmouth wouldn't be the same without that rancid, cheesy stench and moldy grime on the road.

  Damn, I think I got played!

  Parting from Donnie's negotiation deal, Ulrich asked for no payment, just a small favor. That favor was the known address of Terry Mondie and his current residence. To make sure that everything was correct and perfect, Ulrich performed a series of divinations, ensuring that Terry Mondie indeed was here, at this hour.

  Thinking about it again, the seer harbored some regrets.

  I should have asked for some cash! Heh, once I get my hand on that Rank 2 Rune of Shadow formula, I will need the cash to refine it… The salary from the Ministry is far from enough!

  Too bad, it’s already too late. Knowing Donnie, if he’d asked, the man would most likely agree. But Ulrich didn’t bother, afraid of ruining his stout image, whatever that image may be.

  In that moment, Ulrich glanced out the window, whispering, “You found him?”

  Victor furrowed his brows, a bit annoyed that this junior was impeding his ability to focus. After a minute, he nodded, “He’s definitely there, I’m certain. I have marked his aura the moment we met.”

  As he was speaking, Ulrich had already closed his eyes, fiddling with a coin in his hand. Entering resonance, he checked one final time.

  Terry Mondie is currently in Unit 101 of the Dock’s Unit.

  Clink!

  With a swipe of his hand, he snatched the coin midair, not letting it completely fall on the floor. Feeling somewhat anxious, Ulrich loosened his palm, revealing the coin's side—head.

  "My result is the same. My divination cannot be wrong."

  Victor gave a curt nod and reached for the signal flare at his belt, then fired it out the window. When that light went up, Captain Ottis and Rosaline would move in. By then, the suspected Twilight Order zealots would have nowhere to run.

  Ulrich's hand moved to the revolver at his side, fingers brushing the cold metal. Capture if possible. Kill if necessary.

  Captain's words echoed in his mind.

  Quickly, the flare shot upward, painting the night sky crimson. It was a spectacle, one that the Portsmouth citizens hadn’t seen in years. The shot became a crimson moon in the night sky, lighting up the dock with a malevolent oppression that pressed on one’s shoulder.

  And then, from somewhere in the darkness of the dock, a voice—calm, amused, and close, far too close, spoke directly into Ulrich's ear:

  "Tell me, little seer... did your divination show you the coin flip after this one?"