Chapter 149: Ceella & Susan
While the important people were doing important people things.
I decided that maybe talking to people well, Susan, wouldn’t be too bad. It was interesting how many tis I had been near her. Obviously, there was the ti at the concert, and then there was also the ti at the station attack. I hadn’t seen her, but considering her bandmate was there, it wasn’t a stretch to say she was there as well. Especially so since her grandfather Craftalot was there; what a small universe.
Though considering what the event on the station was about, I began to wonder how much of a role she had to play in that disaster.
“What have you been up to recently?” I asked, “Prepared enough?”
She replied, “Happy for a casual chat?” She was wondering if I was actually up to it, considering how I was acting earlier.
“Yeah,” I gave a quick excuse. “Was told I could speak but thought it would be better to be quiet and stay back.”
Susan nodded. “We believe so, but there is only so much that can be done without proper surveillance of the target.”
“Yeah, I know Nina has been trying in that field, but there was only so much that could be done considering how far away the location is.”
Getting drones and satellites to scan the area was one thing, but they had their limits since there were ways to counter them, which had certainly been implented.
“Your side doesn’t need to carry the weight anymore.” Susan said, her eyes looking at my helt, “Nina had already done everyone a massive favour by getting the information out there.”
She added, “No one knows how she finally managed to crack the veil.”
I could feel her intrigued, and I couldn’t bla Susan; the industry must’ve been jumping up in their seats when Nina first extracted information from Lila’s forr boss. Now I had no clue on what Nina actually did to extract the information, but I doubt it was sothing pleasant.
Call it a hunch, but I didn’t think the common thods were what was going to get results.
“You know the details, right?” I asked.
“The common sort—Nina’s organisation managed to capture a high-ranking officer alive, but besides that, nothing.”
That was about what I expected.
Knowing Nina, she wasn’t going to spill the beans on what happened to Lila and my family. Perhaps soone could figure it out, but she told that the bastard who perford the attack did it without proper permission.
“Yeah… I wasn’t there at the ti, so I don’t know what occurred.” I said honestly, “Still… crazy and frustrating that it feels the information seal that has been kept hidden for so long
Susan agreed. There was silent pain in her voice. “Likely part of the reason why they were secretive with what information they provided to the various levels of subordinates.”
I knew it hadn’t been the first ti people had been captured from Dominous Hood, but past interrogation attempts had led to unsatisfying results.
So while it was a great a breakthrough had been made, there was pain among many, knowing if they were able to grab soone with the right knowledge over the many years the organisation had been active, maybe this day would’ve co sooner.
Of course, saying such things was easier said than done. People would self-destruct on potential capture, and those with the knowledge they wanted were not often the ones who were close enough to the nets to be caught.
Now it wasn’t like all Dominous Hood secrets were exposed. Nina’s team only acquired a little smudge, but that tiny piece contained the important key of their main base. With that information, other groups were able to discover more, but the overarching information of their activities was still minimal.
I mumbled, “What a pain indeed.”
There was the extre worry by the attack squad, the people who organised this, and Nina that even if this attack was successful, Dominous Hood would still be at large. They were a group that hid out of sight; the fact they had a central base was surprising enough, but just because they had one didn’t an they were reliant on it.
I said, “We just have to annihilate as many as physically possible.”
Susan seed a bit surprised at the ferocity of my statent but agreed with it. “Yes, it might be the only way to get so peace.”
Certainly, she seems a little sombre.
“It will go well.” I said, “Just try to have fun with it.”
“That’s certainly a perspective.” Susan chuckled.
We chatted about a few other non-classified topics. The classics, the weather, food, work, all the fun stuff. It was fun, and it was sure working as a thod to pass the ti. I did spend a mont to spy around with my [Star Mapping], but everything looked like it was going alright.
“Yeah, I'm mostly part-ti.” I said, “I have other work I like to prioritise, but Nina appreciates my skill set enough, and I owe her enough that I am always happy to co back, but she moves around a lot which isn’t exactly my style.” I was mixing in truths and lies without any worry whatsoever.
“I feel that.” Susan nodded. “Being part of a band ant we ended up travelling a lot, and look, I did enjoy travelling…” Her eyes were lost in wanderlust for a mont. “But it got ntally tiring, deadlines to be at places by and venues to manage; it beca a lot sotis… I might’ve died if it wasn’t for my high level.”
While we were having this lovely chat.
“Hello Susan, what a wonderful surprise, a special occasion.” A new person wearing armour with their middle-aged face visible said hello to my talking partner.
“Hello…” Susan seemingly didn’t know what to say. I watched as her face quickly shifted from shock, surprise, frustration, and then understanding. So safe to say, she knew the person, but they were soone she found to be an annoying friend. That was the vibe I was reading. “Good to see you again…”
“Glad to see you as well.” The man turned to and froze for a mont. He awkwardly smiled and looked back at Susan. “Been making friends, I see.”
Anything to be suspicious of, Espr?
(“ No ”)
Okay, just a weirdo, understood.
The two of them had a quick awkward back-and-forth, and there wasn’t exactly a chance for to interrupt; it looked like the man was honestly trying to push away.
Perhaps it is pranking ti.
Before I could act on my impulses.
I was getting a call from Nina, so I decided to use it as an escape button: “Looks like I am needed elsewhere; have fun you two.”
Susan replied, “Thank you, take care.”
I left those two alone and answered Nina’s call.
Susan whispered, “What are you doing here, grandfather…” She glanced around to make sure no one was listening, and no one reacted to her first statent, so she continued, “I thought you said you weren’t showing up to this because of the potential dangers.”
“And leave you to face them all alone?” He clicked his tongue, “I would be a foolish failure to allow that to happen.”
Craftalot paused for a mont. “So… Who was the person you were speaking with?”
“Her?” Susan raised her eyebrow. “Just one of Nina’s employees; what’s wrong, thinking they are a spy?” That outco would be a surprise and a little rage-inducing for Susan.
“No…” He replied, honestly unsure how to explain this. “It was like I was looking at the void…”
“The void?”
“Yes… I have experinted with powers I shouldn’t touch to create my artefacts, and she feels like the void I have interacted with. A source of power unmatched by mortal limits.”
Susan paused. “Are you saying… she could be a higher level than you?”
His expression didn’t shift. “I am unsure. I don’t know any of the other highest-level individuals who match their description, and none of them have made feel this way before, but if she does not, I would be surprised.”
“...” Susan was lost for words. She had co to speak with Nina, but the true special party of today’s event might not have been Nina after all, but instead soone she had happened to bring along.
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