"Did those crates came from Halzter Retrieval Company?"
Art couldn't believed what was written. Those exact same name and date had already faded into the past yet chose to resurface again.
"W-Why are you bringing Milo in this matter? W-Who are you?" his voice was trembling while in a state of agency.
His only thought was. Is this the Ivory lady's ghost haunting us?
Although he didn't got to see the Ivory Lady. He heard news regarding the Milo incident. Hence, while being a member of the cult behind it himself, he became wary of it.
The seed wrote; "Stay put and just answer."
Then in a gritting and jagged lines did another words it made; "Or you'll die."
I had to threaten him... Selina wasn't usually the type to resolve things through violence. She can however, warn them of a bluff.
Art's blood run cold. His thoughts spiraled into horror and while in this state, he became determined to reach for his back pocket.
"Yes... They came from the company." he reluctantly abide.
At this moment. Selina managed to recount who the man was.
Back when she was at the upper floor of the main wing manor. She saw the caravan used to transport the crates.
The hackney used to move the vans came from Milo along with the tent carriages. A few members were tending them.
Perhaps due to stress. Selina subconsciously etched their faces into her mind, but through erosion of time, she could only vaguely recall their faces when meeting them again.
Art Feud... while ruminating the name and formulating a plan on how to arrest them. Selina suddenly heard a coin bounced away from the man.
Without hesitation and since her objectives are complete. The seed leaped from the table and jumped all the way to the door.
Watching it escapes. Art yelled in frustration. "Damn it... Where are you!?"
The seed made it to the living room. There, instead of returning back from where it entered, it grabbed the bottle and leaped to the side, heading upstairs.
Due to his struggles. Art fall head first from the chair, squirming while trying to undo the rope. "Ack! Bloody cursed beyonder! You'll regret letting me free!"
Around this moment. The gold coin that produced consecutive noise rolled a bit before stopping. There was no reaction.
The seed arrived at Art's bedroom. It entered and rummaged the drawers, hoping to find something that can be used to arrest them.
At the lower corner of the wardrobe. It saw a contract and a few documents. The former paper held the company's terms and conditions.
Of course, being an aspiring worker of a company that was run by a secret organization would always be under the bribery of their corresponding beliefs.
The contracts says: "Within a given period in time, a special promotion will be held for new workers. A chance to receive privilege."
This can be a good follow-up evidence. However, Selina doubt that was enough.
Soon, rustles of footsteps arrived at the front door. The seed quickly sensed that they're not officers, evident by the fact that she didn't prepared a report.
They're quick?
The remaining time lessened.
Inside of the basement. Art heard a few people barged in upstairs.
They're here! he exclaimed and turned his body to yell, "I'm here!"
Those same people rushed to the basement. A man dressed in a blue coat began untying his peer, he had a bent nose and freckled face appearing stern.
"The enemy is controlling the seed! It went up!" Art wanted for it to be confiscated more than for him to be freed.
One man with an even more burly body scanned the basement before telling to a helper, "Search the entire house. If it's a seed, it couldn't have gotten anywhere."
Two of them paced to the living room and split as the other went upstairs.
While wearing a cap, he saw the door leading to the bedroom slightly ajar. He instinctively went in to inspect.
However, by the time he opened the door fully. The wind was already flailing the curtains, entering from the open window.
...
The seed rolled from the roof along with the bottle and both landed on the soil. Using its stem, it pushed the glass container away and quickly burrowed into the ground.
The building's front door opened again, and the five individuals, along with Art scanned the street.
The taller man with recessed eyes but deep features fixed his voice and said, "Find that person! They shouldn't be far from here."
As his people scattered. Hidden beneath the street, the seed was digging its way across.
Thanks to its ability to sense the surrounding, it shoot out of the tiny tunnel when it arrived at an inn.
Then before anyone could notice. It snuck into a crevice of the wall and entered the reception hall.
It's now at the break of dawn, and many occupants have started to act for the day's toil.
As multiple faces, wearing either plain white shirt or fully dressed walked down. The seed leaped one stair-level at a time, ensuring no one notices it.
Then, out the best of everything, a kid that wears a cap, noticed it roll upon reaching the second floor.
Curious, it tried to pick it up.
No sweetheart! Selina's heart raced.
At the same time. Two people entered the main hall. It was Art and another peer who's wearing a wool coat.
They're here! without wasting any time. She willed the seed to open its shell and pushed itself a little while revealing no stem.
"Ma! A seed!" the child pointed at the seed rolling.
Art was alerted by the child's innocent antics. He immediately nudged his accomplice. "Upstairs."
Eeek! Selina kept the seed rolling with a bit of its stem.
Finally it entered her room. It didn't stopped rolling until it reached the bed frame. Then it jumped, landing at Selina's hand.
Selina's eyes fluttered open.
Art and the man arrived on the second. They instantly thought of scouring each room for the seed, hoping that it led them to its owner.
An old man walk out and the next was a woman with silver braided-bun hair, clad in a dress and a capelet.
"Good morning." The lady politely greeted them with a soft smile.
Art and the man perked up and both tipped their caps, watching her strode pass them. Their gazes lingered at her without explanation.
"Hey!" he strike his accomplice by the abdomen. Waking him from a trance that doesn't quite add up.
"We're here for the seed so stop dallying and search every room!"
...
Outside of Fabulous Inn. At 35 Howes Street.
Two more individuals entered the building before a man taller than them followed. Seconds later they all exited.
"Damn it! What ability is that?" Art balled his fist and slammed the door in rage.
The staff said, "Hey! That's private property!"
"Grrr..." Art withdrew his hand and glared at the attendant.
"I wasn't aware that a powerhouse is present around this district..." The man towering all of his peers said in a deep, contemplative tone.
"It's getting late for work. We'll inform the head manager and await for orders..."
Art nodded along with his peers.
Suddenly, when the man turned around, he glanced at him and coldly said, "Say everything what you said to it."
Art's heart sank. His thoughts stirred by what's to come. The four of them didn't budged until Art himself gave a reply.
He nodded anxiously, "Yes."
Their silhouettes fleeted from the passing of pedestrians and pacing carriages. Amid this lively street, a woman with a silver braided-bun hair walked out of an alley.
They left... Selina sighed in relief and continued with her fine, habitual steps.
...
In an apartment located somewhere in North Borough. Birchwhite Street.
A door leading to one of the rooms at the third floor creaked open.
The blinds of the windows were shut, and curtains were drawn close. Denying the natural light from fully entering.
Klein took his top hat off and helped himself in.
"Hello Mr. Dewford." His voice was calm and professional when he tried greeting the tenant.
Inclined to one of the sofas is a man wearing a white shirt, untended and unbuttoned. He had frazzled hair, deep-sullen eyes and pale complexion.
"Who are you?" he rasped, looking at him at the corner of his eye.
Klein drew a silent breath and said unhurriedly. "My name is Klein Moretti. An officer from Awwa County Police."
He presented his badge along with his permit from his wallet.
"I came here to talk about certain things."
"Just get straight to the point." Dewford grated while raising another glass cup. It contains Southville beer, to which he tilted his head back and downed it.
Gladly! Klein praised secretly before saying, "Did you know that your son have involved himself in a clandestine association?"
"Marik?" Dewford blurted out, a bit surprised.
Klein nodded while keeping his top hat near his chest.
Seeing the officer confirmed. Dewford spat out a condescending laugh. "I didn't take that fool for a son."
I feel personally attacked... while lampooning. Klein adjusted his tone to adapt according to his situation.
"Had he visited you recently?"
Dewford slammed his glass cup down and said, "Let him try to face me again and he'll see not a father but hell."
So I take it he didn't visited you? Klein extended his patience. "Please cooperate or I might have to detain your for interrogation."
Hiss! While expressing his displeasure. Dewford eventually submited. "He came here last week."
"And what did he say to you?" said Klein, paying full attention.
"I threw a wine bottle at him. Surprisingly, he evaded."
What a way to greet a family member... Klein's corner mouth twitched.
Dewford continued after downing another glass. "Ahhh... That kid spouting nonsense about indulging into desires would bring us wealth, urging me to join. Heh... If I were younger, I would've, but by then Flora would still be around."
Flora? Klein opened his mouth. "Was your disputes... about the death of your wife?"
"We're not married." Dewford poured another liquor into his glass. The bottle was emptied out.
"Because I couldn't contain my own carnal desires... the stress brought misery to her."
You're alcoholic and...! A philanderer? Klein was surprised to see that his impressions of him could go anymore lower.
Their family matter is confusing. It's best to revert to the reason why I came here... So he urged his father to join the Rose School of Thought?
"So did he say anything about where..."
"Oh, forgive me, not carnal desires, but addiction." Dewford interrupted him. "Haaah... young man that must've altered my impression to you..."
There's not much to alter in the first place... Klein smiled awkwardly. "That's alright."
"Due to Marik's birth. I had to double my wealth. In order to do that, I gambled it."
Klein didn't bothered commenting in his head anymore.
"I wasted everything, and Flora along with it. All because of him. He started going around, neglecting school and indulging in all sorts of antics."
You can only blame yourself... Klein sighed and donned with top hat again. "If you would. Please tell me any place that your child had mentioned to you."
"Halzter Retrieval Company." Dewford simply answered without batting an eye. He drank the last liquor.
Before going, Klein tipped his top hat. "Thank you for your cooperation. I'll be sending a specialist to inspect your mental condition. Rest assured, the cost is already covered."
"I don't need a therapist..." Dewford persistently lifted and shake his bottle, trying to get every last drop of the liquor into his mouth.
Klein didn't uttered another word as he turned around, fixed his coat and eventually closed the door after leaving.