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Chapter 510 115.8 - First Mission

Shanks had given me a nod of approval, but I knew that my words were only the first step in gaining the trust and respect of the team. I needed to prove myself in action, not just in conversation.

I left the meeting room and made my way down the quiet corridor, my mind still turning over the details of the discussion. The investigation was complex, with multiple layers to unravel, and I was certain that the truth was lurking somewhere beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

As I reached the exit, I noticed a figure waiting just outside. Lira stood there, her posture relaxed but with a sharpness in her gaze that suggested she wasn\'t just idly lingering. She was waiting for me.

I met her eyes as I approached, and there was a brief moment of silence as we both assessed each other. Lira was the first to speak, her voice calm but laced with a hint of scrutiny.

"I requested someone capable from headquarters," she began, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And they sent you?"

It was clear that her words weren\'t just a casual inquiry—they were a challenge, a subtle questioning of my qualifications. I knew this was a test, one that I had to navigate carefully.

"Why would you think I\'m not capable?" I replied evenly, meeting her gaze without flinching. There was no point in deflecting her question; it was better to address it head-on.

Lira studied me for a moment longer, her expression thoughtful but guarded. "You\'re just a newbie," she said, her tone direct. "For someone who\'s new to the field, these types of missions aren\'t exactly the best place to start. You have much to learn, and it\'s usually better to send someone in your position to a more controlled environment—somewhere they can observe and grow at a steady pace."

I nodded slightly, acknowledging the logic in her words. "That would indeed be better," I agreed, "if someone were learning at a slow pace. But that\'s not the case for me."

Lira\'s eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by my response. "Why is that?"

"Because I\'m a fast learner," I said, my tone confident but not arrogant. "I\'m here because I can adapt quickly, analyze the situation, and contribute effectively, even under pressure. I understand that this mission is complex, and I\'m aware of the risks. But I wouldn\'t be here if I wasn\'t ready."

Lira\'s eyes narrowed slightly as she continued to assess me, her mind clearly working through what I had just said. The silence hung between us, heavy with the weight of her scrutiny. Finally, I decided to add a bit more context to my situation.

"To add context," I began, my tone calm and measured, "it\'s only been three weeks since I entered the organization."

The moment the words left my mouth, Lira\'s expression shifted. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she couldn\'t hide the disbelief in her voice as she responded. "Three weeks? And no prior training?"

I shook my head, keeping my expression neutral. "Not in the traditional sense. But I\'m also a student of Arcadia Hunter Academy."

The mention of the Academy had the effect I anticipated. Lira\'s eyes widened a fraction more, and for a brief moment, she seemed taken aback. "Arcadia Hunter Academy?" she echoed, her tone now tinged with a mix of respect and understanding.

I nodded. "Indeed."

Lira released a quiet sigh, her earlier skepticism giving way to a more measured consideration. "I see. If you\'re from Arcadia, that explains a lot."

The Arcadia Hunter Academy was known for its rigorous training and the high standards it set for its students. Graduates of the Academy were often among the best in their fields, and the fact that I was currently enrolled there clearly shifted Lira\'s perception of me.

\'Though you would not think if you were to see it from inside.\' But let\'s not mention that.

"If that\'s the case," Lira continued, her tone more thoughtful now, "then it makes sense why you were assigned to this mission so quickly. The Academy doesn\'t produce novices. Even if you\'re new to the organization, you\'ve already undergone some of the most intense training available."

I could see the gears turning in her mind as she recalibrated her expectations. The mention of Arcadia had changed the dynamic between us, and while I could still sense a degree of caution in her, there was also a newfound respect.

"Alright," Lira said finally, her tone decisive. "I\'ll be watching to see how you handle yourself on this mission. Arcadia or not, this is a different environment, and the stakes are high. But if you\'re as capable as I think you might be, then this should end sooner rather than later."

"That will indeed be the case," I mumbled.

Lira\'s eyes narrowed slightly at my mumble, her curiosity clearly piqued. "What? Did you find something?" she asked, her tone sharp with interest.

I met her gaze, weighing my words carefully. "Well, let\'s just say you should look forward to tomorrow\'s meeting."

Lira wasn\'t satisfied with that. "If you know something, it\'s better for you to share it now," she pressed. There was an edge to her voice, a mix of concern and impatience. She wasn\'t someone who liked to be kept in the dark, especially when the stakes were this high.

I held up a hand, trying to reassure her without giving too much away. "I have something in mind," I admitted, keeping my tone measured, "but I need to gather more evidence before I can be sure. It\'s a theory that could change how we approach the situation, but I want to make sure it\'s solid before I bring it to the table."

Lira\'s expression remained intense, but I could see her considering my words. "Until tomorrow\'s meeting, I\'ll be working to get the pieces in place. I don\'t want to plague your mind with half-baked ideas. It\'s better for both of us if I come prepared with something concrete."

She seemed to weigh my response, her eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation or doubt. But when she found none, she finally nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Alright," she said, her tone a bit more resigned. "I\'ll be waiting for that then."

I could tell she wasn\'t entirely satisfied with being kept in suspense, but she also understood the importance of being thorough.

Lira was too experienced to dismiss the need for solid evidence, even if it meant waiting a bit longer for answers.

With our exchange concluded, she gave me one last assessing look before turning to leave. "Don\'t disappoint me, Astron," she said over her shoulder as she walked away.

"I had been hearing that a lot."

"Well, you must be."

As I watched her go, I also started getting ready for my investigation.

I made my way toward the exit, my mind already shifting gears to the task at hand.

As I stepped out of the building, the cool evening air greeted me. The sky was darkening, the sun dipping below the horizon and casting long shadows across the city. It was around 7:30 P.M., and the familiar transition from day to night was settling over Veilcroft. The once-bustling streets were now quieter, the energy of the city shifting as the evening wore on.

This was the time when the whispers and disturbances were at their most active, and I knew that to truly understand what was happening, I needed to experience it firsthand.

I pulled my collar up against the chill in the air and set off into the deepening twilight. The city\'s lights began to flicker on, casting a soft glow over the streets as I walked.

I had already identified several locations where the disturbances were most concentrated, and it was to these places that I was now heading.

My first destination was an older section of the city, one that had seen better days. The buildings here were worn, their facades cracked and weathered by time. This area has been mentioned frequently in reports, with a higher-than-average number of victims reporting strange phenomena.

The streets here were narrow, the buildings close together, creating an atmosphere that felt almost claustrophobic in the growing darkness.

As I walked, I kept my senses sharp, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of unusual activity. The streets were relatively empty, but there was a palpable tension in the air as if the city itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

\'This is where it all begins,\' I thought, feeling a familiar surge of adrenaline. The city\'s whispers and disturbances were strongest in these places, and I could already sense the faint traces of the unnatural energy that had been plaguing Veilcroft.

The closer I got to the epicenters of these disturbances, the more I felt the atmosphere change. It was subtle at first—a slight chill in the air, a faint hum of something just beyond the edge of perception. But as I continued, the sensations grew stronger and more defined.

I paused at the entrance to a narrow alley, one of the hotspots I had marked earlier. The energy here was thick, almost tangible, and I could sense the fear that lingered in the air, like an invisible mist that clung to the walls and pavement.

\'This is it,\' I thought, taking a deep breath and stepping forward into the shadows. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The alley was eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the distant hum of the city beyond. As I walked deeper into the alley, I allowed my [Eyes] to open further, filtering out the noise and focusing on the underlying currents of mana that flowed through this place.

The energy was erratic, twisted, and unnatural. It moved in strange patterns, looping back on itself and creating a web of tension that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

The whispers were faint here, almost imperceptible, but they were present—a low murmur that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

I could see the faint traces of the people who had passed through here, their fear leaving an imprint on the mana that hung in the air.

It was as if their very presence had been absorbed into the fabric of the alley, contributing to the growing disturbance.

\'So, in a way, what this spell does is simply create the voices of the morning or past in a strange manner to cause disturbance?\' I continued to explore the area, carefully following the threads of mana as they wound through the alley and into the surrounding buildings. The deeper I went, the more I understood the patterns that were at play here.

My focus sharpened as I delved deeper into the alley, the patterns of mana becoming more intricate, more deliberate. The energy here was like a web, its strands leading back to something hidden, something that was manipulating these threads for a darker purpose. I was on the verge of uncovering something significant when—

A low growl cut through the silence, a sound that sent a chill down my spine. It was close, too close, and it carried with it a primal, predatory intent.

Instincts honed by years of training kicked in, and I froze, every sense on high alert. I could feel it now, a presence looming just behind me, its intent clear—this was no ordinary creature.

\'Indeed,\' I thought, nodding inwardly as I kept my breathing steady. \'Suppressing my mana was the right choice.\'