"Let's see here..." In the reading booth, Hao sat comfortably on an ergonomic chair, the cushion moulding around him as if to embrace his body. The table before him had the emblem of the Blade Engineering Guild on it - a hammer and anvil, representing their focus on craftsmanship and engineering.
Before beginning his reading session, Hao carefully unsheathed the S-Catalogue and switched its normal reading mode to bas relief. Hao's Vibe Sense had trouble interpreting the flat frequencies of the normal reading mode, which relied on visual imagery. Bas relief, on the other hand, suited him perfectly. With this mode, he could use his hands to scan the information by feeling the raised characters.
As the characters spread across the table in their three-dimensional form, Hao began to read using his palms. Although his Vibe Sense could already ascertain the shapes of the characters, he enjoyed the direct interaction, finding it helped him memorize the information better.
"Mysteries of the X-Class: Unleashing the Power Within," the title read. Hao started with the first section, 'Basic Understanding of X-Class Swords,' which explained the unique properties and intricacies of these powerful weapons. It delved into the seemingly shrouded forging process, the basic materials used, and the importance of the bond between sword and wielder.
"Oh..." Hao was intrigued to discover that almost all of the X-Class weapons in existence were forged in the bowels of Inverse by nameless Blade Masters. The information he sought was located in the section 'How to Access X-Class Sword Details.' The text explained that no external apparatus could help unsheathe an X-Class sword; the only way to access its power was through the bond between the user and the sword itself. This bond, it continued, could only be formed if the sword acknowledged its user. There was no other way.
Hao was disappointed. "So this was a dead end? I can't unsheathe this thing until it deems me worthy." He zoomed in on Judgment Day, which was leaning against the table. "But the fact that I can touch its naked hilt and not be absorbed like Mentos's kitten did must mean something right?" He questioned himself then added, "I need to study more." Thus he prepared to read further, but…
"Huh!" While reading, Hao sensed someone approaching and quickly closed the S-Catalogue and re-wrapped Judgment Day. He had become hyper-aware of his surroundings due to his Vibe Sense.
"Hello?" Lanor barged into the booth as if she wasn't expecting anyone to be inside. "Is this booth occupied? Huh, it's you?" She recognized him.
"What do you want?" Hao asked coldly, his guard up. He found Lanor's behaviour suspicious.
She explained, "The other reading booths were at capacity. The person at the desk directed me to come here. Look, here's my receipt from the pass I just purchased."
"I can't see that," he said coldly.
"What's with the nasty attitude, buddy? If you don't want me here, just say so, and I'll leave. You don't have to be such an ass."
She was about to leave, but Hao got up and left instead. As he brushed past her, his clothes rustled softly and the air around them charged with tension. "Enjoy your studies," he said icily.
Watching him leave, she called him a "Jerk." Lanor couldn't help but feel pissed, her face flushed with resentment.
Hao walked down the archive's corridor, his footsteps inaudible as he navigated the space with ease. He reached the lift, pressing the button to descend to the ground floor. Upon exiting the lift, he ran into Ms Elysia again, who stood near the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone.
"Leaving so soon?" she inquired, her tone laced with curiosity.
"I've got some urgent matters to attend to," Hao replied, trying to hide his annoyance at her intrusion. His mind was so jumbled that he forgot he still had with him, the possession of the rear S-Catalogue.
"You must be an incredibly busy young man," she commented with a slight smile. Hao nodded curtly, not wanting to engage in any further conversation. With a final nod, he walked past her and headed towards the exit.
"Hmm? This is…?"
As soon as he appeared outside, from the platform, his nostrils picked up a familiar scent. He sniffed the air, recognizing the distinct perfume of Diana, one of the Imperial Hounds. It was a blend of jasmine and citrus, a combination that was both alluring and formidable, just like Diana herself.
'Oh shoot. I can't let her discover me,' Hao thought, panic rising in his chest. He quickly turned and re-entered the archive.
"Hao Vee, Level 7 Blade Engineer. Access granted."
"Huh?" Diana's attention was caught by the sound of the RSA device, which had beeped after Hao scanned his Vibe Edge for entry. She faintly recognized the figure wearing a long sword on his back, vanishing out of sight. "That man just now, could it be him...?"
Diana's intuition was spot on. She rushed over to the entrance and demanded entry from the clerk who was overseeing the RSA device. "Hey, you! Let me in there!" she barked, her voice echoing through the lobby.
"I'm sorry, only those with authorized access can enter. Rules are rules," the clerk replied, unfazed by her outburst.
Diana's face turned red with anger, her hands clenched into fists. "I'm an Imperial Hound! Let me through right away! I'm on official business!" she yelled, causing the people around her to stare.
The clerk remained unmoved, his expression calm and resolute. "You still need to be a member of the guild to enter, regardless of your position. Those are the guild's policies."
Diana's frustration reached a boiling point. She unsheathed her sword and pointed it at the clerk's neck. "Let me in, or I'll slash your throat!" she threatened, her entire being blazing with fury.
The clerk didn't flinch, his speech was steady as he responded, "I'm sorry, but I cannot grant you access without proper authorization."
Whispers spread through the crowd as they watched the altercation unfold. Some were impressed by the clerk's unwavering adherence to the rules, while others were anxious about Diana's increasingly volatile behaviour.
Despite her threats and anger, Diana found herself unable to gain entry to the archive. She sheathed her sword, her face burning with embarrassment and rage. With a final glare at the unyielding clerk, she stormed away, leaving the crowd to disperse and return to their own business. But she would be coming back for vengeance very soon.