"Look at those two; could they be bigger gluttons? Devouring their favorite parts of the three bodyguards then falling asleep on their Mama sigh, they've got it so good." Cynrik grumbled before kissing his Kona on the cheek and sitting down in front of Geralt's desk.
"Now, darling~ you can't bla them for loving so much, considering that was how we raised them," Selene chided while petting the silky feathers between Sie and Vii's wings.
"Che, if mory serves, it's you who spoils them the most," Wearing a smile, Cynrik turned his attention to the pale-faced Geralt.
"Hell of a first day of school, amirite Headmaster?" The way Cynrik was completely unbothered by his borderline evil and nefarious previous actions, Geralt couldn't help but look at the young man in a slightly different light.
It was one thing to torture an enemy, that much he was ok with since extracting information was never a glamorous act; however, the way that Cynrik had not only enjoyed inflicting pain on the man but also using him as a lab rat for experintation didn't settle well with Geralt's stomach.
"Kid, you need to get those urges in check, one day…I fear your ntal stability will be questioned…well, more so than it already is. It's like you have multiple personalities." Thinking back to the warmth and kindness Cynrik had shown the two birds and his wife, then back to how he acted when torturing the Bralley Family Patriarch, Geralt had difficulty believing they were the sa person.
"I have many faces, Geralt, so of which you've seen and others that you haven't; as for my ntal stability, well, didn't that shrink four years ago put that notion to rest? I thought we already accepted; ima a tad bit touched in the head." Cynrik stated with a mysterious smirk.
"Anyway, we need to get prepared for what is to co. As unfortunate as it is, it appears my theory about an underground organization cutting us off at every turn was correct."
One of the first things Taileek Bralley exposed within the first minute of torture was the existence of a Shadow Governnt esk organization that ran things behind the scenes.
This Organization, which Taileek nad Sancaster, was many millennia years old and had been the guiding hand for Astria Moor since its founding.
From the background, they manipulated the large families, clans, organizations, military, and governnt, modeling the narrative to their own political and moral views, and were the ones who had initiated the extre restrictions on information.
Every single group, being, individual, and governing body who had gone against them since their founding had been eradicated from history, from large and influential families to Geniuses that broke the mold; it didn't matter; they were destroyed.
And given the hard ti Cynrik and MyrkLys had been having since the end of the third Competition, it seed this Sancaster group had set their sights on them this ti around.
"It is more impressive that you have no knowledge of this Sancaster Organization, Geralt. Being the Headmaster of an illustrious Learning Institution, I'd have expected you to be in the know, but considering your backing, I suppose it isn't too illogical." Cupping his chin with his left hand, Cynrik mused while rembering the old man and CSH admin who called Geralt Son.
"No…it runs deeper than that, Cynrik; I believe more than 50% of the Board of Directors for VSFA may be part of this Organization. Every ti decisions co to a vote, there is a selection of Directors who venomously oppose anything about you and MyrkLys, and as such, I suspect them to be part of Sancaster potentially." Exhaling loudly, Geralt continued.
"The only question is how deep their influence runs in my Academy. How many Professors, Instructors, and staff mbers are on their payroll? That is where the true problem lies." Leaning back in his chair, Geralt attempted to scan through his mories and pick out anyone under Sancaster's influence.
"Indeed, depending on their numbers, it is no different from allowing the fox into the henhouse. It also ans that we have been monitored at every avenue, which further exacerbates my decision to keep everything in-house within the Faction and residence, from weapons and armor smithing to our personal healthcare."
"MyrkLys is completely self-sufficient, and apart from attending our weekly lessons, nothing we do in our daily lives can be monitored. Even the way we exit the Dorm and head to train in the many Egresses is under wraps since I transport everything through the Shadow Realm." Uncupping his chin, Cynrik crossed his arms and found a potential flaw.
"However, thanks to that, I believe we can consider Sancaster in the know about my ans of transportation. If they know they can't track our movents because of it, they must have worked out a thod to counter it long since."
"It's doubtful; not even at Tier-6 am I able to notice the disturbances in the fabric of space when you open your portals. Due to it being a unique skill, I doubt it can ever be replicated, so setting up any type of failsafe may be extrely difficult, if not impossible." Feeling uneasy, Geralt attempted to work out for the umpteen ti how Cynrik's skill worked.
"Not necessarily; with the nation's complete resources and then so at their disposal, I wouldn't be surprised if Sancaster had a complex network of monitoring in place; with the net wide enough, it would be possible to catch exiting the Shadow Realm at so point, and that is sothing I have long since prepared for, even with extensive satellite surveillance, unless they throw everybody available at us, I doubt I couldn't punch a hole through their lines and make an escape, especially if I nuke the area." Shrugging his shoulders, Cynrik seed passive about the situation.
"Either that, or we could just live for so ti in the Shadow Realm and go exploring; the only downside is without sufficient preparations, we would be traveling on foot with limited supplies, but I will work to fix that issue this week."
'Oh? Are you making bug-out bags?' ntioning a typical military term, Selene spoke of an escape bag filled with essentials such as cash, passports, and the like, which so military mbers on Earth prepared in case shit hit the fan one day.
'Basically, except you and I will store enough food to last us years in our inventory and Spatial Items.' Confirming her thoughts, Cynrik began formulating a ntal checklist of all the necessary resources for daily life in the Shadow Realm while splitting his mind to continue conversing with Geralt.
"So, with the information about Sancaster in hand, I suppose it's ti we address the fact that lody's Mom works for them.
Her disappearance several years back surprised most of you but not , considering that I've been cautious and suspicious of her since we t her." Sniffling and tilting his head to the side to release the pent-up stress in the form of a loud pop, Cynrik gazed at Geralt with emotionless eyes.
"Previously, I thought you were being ridiculous…but now…it seems to align perfectly. If Claire were a mber of Sancaster, I don't doubt she would be the one to let the spies into VSFA during your first year, nor acting to leak information about MyrkLys. Still, I ask you, Cynrik, what do you plan on doing with lody now that you know her origin?
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