Swain de Peck held the transparent body of the artificial spirit in his shriveled right hand. The spirit was struggling with its entire body, but it couldn't even escape Swain's weaker hand. The pot in its abdomen was the only corporeal part of its body and it was shaking in its entirety. It was a stage 10 expert, however, it was definitely weaker in resisting as it was specialized in the field of hiding.
Colonel Vlastimir entered into combat mode and was scanning the whole palace for similar threats, while Commodore Gima contacted his ship and ordered it to send marines into the palace. The other three captains who just arrived behind Swain also unleashed their magic. The Unpunctual armed its anti-expert weaponry as the other ships formed around it in a wedge formation. The might of the Empire formed an impassable barricade around this corner of the space.
"This is a warning. I will ask every question twice and after the questions, if I don't get the information I want, then I will forge you into a ship that will siphon your power away in a thousand agonizing years," said Swain with hidden anger in his voice. "What is your name?"
The spirit was still struggling in Swain's right hand, but it didn't answer.
"Colonel Vlastimir, can you use the seventh form of Imperial Investigation Manual?"
"Of course, Governor." answered the Colonel while he was surprised by the sudden question.
"Then please, come here and use it on this filth every time it doesn't answer."
"As you command, Governor!" saluted Colonel Vlastimir.
He then stepped closer to the spirit and grabbed its shoulders. His magic flowed into it and a faint yellow color appeared around Colonel's hands. The spirit first stopped its struggle then started to shake even more violently.
"Enough, Colonel. Now, spirit, let me ask once again. What is your name?" asked Swain menacingly.
"It's Though Burying Urn." said the spirit in a high-pitched voice.
"Though Burying Urn... An appropriate name. And what is your purpose?"
"I can't say that." whispered now the spirit.
"Colonel, you can use up to ten percent of the seventh form's true power."
"Affirmative, Governor." acknowledged Colonel Vlastimir then discharged even more of his magic into the spirit's body.
The upper portions of its body soon turned completely yellow and its struggle stopped for a final time. Then it emitted an ear-splitting scream. The scream traveled through the whole palace and it stopped the rushing marines for a brief moment, but they soon charged towards the Governor's Hall with doubled effort.
"Even the most hardened convicts broke when their soul is being corrupted by the most vicious form of Imperial magic. Let me ask once again, what is your purpose?" aimed the question once again Swain towards the spirit.
"To seal away the positive thoughts and the floating yang energies. I have been planted here by my Lord to spy and hinder the inhabitants of this floating palace." whimpered the spirit while the yellow energy slipped into the urn in the figure's abdomen.
"Who is your master?"
The spirit opened his mouth, but only a whimper escaped it, and the urn turned into a fine dust. The ethereal body of the spirit then returned into the air.
"Did you execute it, Colonel Vlastimir?" Swain asked the Colonel.
"I didn't, of course. It just vanished suddenly."
Swain closed his eyes and smelled the air. A faint smell of cherry blossoms could be sensed from the air.
***********
In the only Imperial Metropolis in the Cultivation Union territory, there was a slum for disgraced Imperial officials, the destitute and crippled cultivators. In the middle of the slum, there was a courtyard made out of rotten planks of wood and plastic waste. No beggar or wasted person wandered near it and even the overlords of the slum turned it a blind eye.
In the middle of the courtyard, there was blooming a cheery tree.
"Brother Yang, what happened?" asked a voice.
Next to the cherry tree a small desk and four elegant chairs were placed. Two of the chairs were occupied by shadows. One of the shadows was sipping a cup of tea, while the other was focusing on the stars.
"One of my pawns was discovered in the Excursion Zone. It was the furthest one. I hope they couldn't get anything from it before I ended it."
"Oh, the Top Excursion Zone E1Z1, where the new governor arrived just today. Your disciples favored that zone ever since its establishment." moused one of the shadows while drinking his tea.
"What do you know about the new governor? His name was Swane di Pet... or something like that."
"Swain de Peck. The Left Hand's Hound. The most hated Investigator ever since the establishment of the Four Institutions. If I were you, I would advise your disciple and his friends to get away from the E1Z1 zone and not cross the path of that madman."
"Why would I do that? He is just an imperial dog, who can't see the bigger picture in the Excursion Zone. I didn't think you were that cowardly, Sister."
"Investigator Swain is a madman. He hounded every bigger power in the Capitolium. At the height of his power, even the Left Hand and the Right Hand agreed to let him hunt. Nobody was safe. He had an incredible nose for dirty laundry and secrets. He even hunted this organization for a time. If not for the sacrifice of our branch in the Capitolium, then we wouldn't be speaking right now."
"Yes, but he lost his powers now. At least according to you, only the disgraced leave the Capitolium."
"Yes, but Swain's departure was a special case. He hadn't failed the Emperor or his own supporters. He was exiled by the Emperor because a ducal family used their birthright wish to make him disappear. I think there are still some who would be willing to wager on The Left Hand's Hound."
"My disciple invested a lot into that Excursion Zone. He wouldn't leave it for a disgraced dog. I still believe we could have fought the Empire at that time to a standstill."
"That's the one thing we disagree on, Brother. I have tried to build an intelligence network inside the Empire for the last thousand years, and yet I still can't fathom its reserve powers and the true power of even one faction inside the Capitolium. I know we are talking here only because the Emperor thinks it's too much hassle to cleanse the whole Cultivation Union."
"Maybe you simply think that the paper tiger is a real one. We should really clai.... Who is there?!" shouted the shadowy figure and readied his sword.
"Sorry, sorry, fellow experts." a calm and mellow voice answered. "I am deeply sorry to arrive here without any invitation, but I feel like I have to introduce myself."
The space cracked and a person dressed in a black suit stepped through the crack. Both shadowed figures stood up from their chairs and readied themselves for combat. A strong wind arrived at the courtyard and the cherry blossoms started to fall.
"My name is Levandra du Frolent. The new city lord of this very Metropolis." said the newcomer with a light bow.
"You are at least a Zenith..." said the swordsman with a dumbfounded voice.
"Yes, I'm a humble stage 2 expert under the command of the Minister of the Left Hand. I will be in your hospitality in the future."
As the exchange happened in the slums, in space a new Punitive Regiment started its long journey towards the Excursion Zone. The ships' engines burned with the color of flames as they entered into FTL. And in the planet down below, newly arrived shock troops and Orderkeepers started the political cleansing of the Metropolis Proper.