Lying on a cold steel medical table was a man; white haired and dark skinned. His hair, however, was tainted by his own blood, it seems. There were wounds and bruise all over his body.
The three looked around and saw that some of the equipments and machineries were active. Screen indicators showed that he's breathing, however faintly it may be. He had a pulse, but barely noticeable.
Tao immediately walked up to the unconscious man. Feeling his wrist, he confirmed it manually that the man was indeed still alive.
Tao intently looked at him. Noticing something, he moved the 3rd Elder's front fringe to the side. There, very clearly, was a deep long scar that strike through his right eye.
"3rd Elder, whatever happened to you?" Tao asked.
"You know this human?" Ludis asked.
"Sort of… an enemy turned ally. He was with the boss when the boss disappeared."
"By boss, you mean…?"
"Yeah, Frankenstein."
"Y'know, Noblesse-nim, based on your concerns these days which we've heard, and this destination where we found ourselves right now, I expected to see that servant of yours."
"So did I." Raizel replied.
"Then… where is he?"
"I… have no idea." Raizel replied, looking at the 3rd Elder.
"No matter," Ludis said to Tao. "Let's bring him to the Hospital."
***
Ludis and Tao carried the 3rd Elder across the sea, through the forest, onto the nearest hospital. With Ludis' influence, the 3rd Elder was immediately attended.
"I'm gonna let this past since he cannot defend for himself, and he's considered your ally." Said Ludis. "However, It doesn't change the fact that he's an enemy of our state. His crimes as a Union Elder is far too heavy offense to just be handed over to Frankenstein for judgement. The moment he stabilize, take him out of here. Otherwise he'll face Lukedonia's penal system."
"Ah, sure… " said Tao. " Thanks!"
Ludis turned to face the Noblesse.
"Forgive me for the discourtesy, sir."
Then he left the two after he bowed.
"Tao," Raizel uttered.
"Raizel-nim?"
"Search the caves one more time. Make sure no one was really there. After that, we go back."
"Right away. We need to know what happened to the 3rd Elder."
Tao stepped out of the hospital, and closed the doors behind him.
***
Tao returned to the Cave, and immediately started searching every nook and cranny, even the tunnels for possible doors that may lead to another laboratory or a study. Unfortunately, however, he found none.
Tao returned once again to the laboratory they entered earlier. This time, he looked more closely to his surroundings, gathering whatever it was that he could find.
Tao took a book from one of the shelves. A moment, and he returned it. He took another, and after a moment, he returned it to the shelves; picked up a few things and returned it back again after looking at it for a while. He then dropped to his knees and placed his hand on the floor; knocking it a few times.
"Everything here…" Tao uttered. "Everything here's not old at all. Raizel-nim was missing for 820 years and at that time, Frankenstein said he hid from everyone else. It's impossible for him to have come all the way here just to maintain it, and keep it usable. The books are relatively new, and the wood and stone used were renewed as well, probably less than three decades old. This isn't Frankenstein's doing. This place should have been gone, at least buried, a few centuries ago."
Tao stood up and checked the room once more. After he decided he'd get nothing more, he went back to the door. Before he exited, however, he took a small disc from his pocket; threw it inside and hurriedly closed the door.
There was a sound of lighting, a small explosion and the fuzzing of electrical wires heard right after.