Awakeners are individuals at the first stage of gaining abilities beyond the average human, acquired through rituals or cultivation. The next stage, Ascender, brings a great transformation to the individual, granting significantly enhanced powers. At the highest stage, Transcendent, individuals gain unimaginable abilities, with the potential to cause calamities or even bend reality.
There are twelve distinct classes in this world, divided into two categories: six Orthodox and six Unorthodox classes. Orthodox classes are guided and controlled by the benevolent gods who protect this world, while Unorthodox classes are wielded by secret organizations or followers of evil gods.
Although this information is limited, I'm lucky to know it, as it's typically restricted to officials and not available to the public.
As I finished writing down my thoughts, I moved on to the next report, which detailed a kidnapping case. It stated that twelve children had been abducted this month alone. The report contained the nature of the kidnappings, with each child taken from different areas, making it seem like the work of a well-organized group. There was no pattern to the time or location of the abductions, but the authorities suspected that the culprits were targeting families of lower social standing. The report also mentioned that the local law enforcement was struggling to make progress, which cause my father to investigate.
"This case could be a disaster." I muttered to myself. There's a high chance it's being planned by a secret organization that sacrifice their victims, either for some ritual or, for their entertainment. These individuals are nothing more than lunatics, that must be eradicated in this world. If this kind of organization is involved, the scale of the threat could be far worse than just a few missing children.
I stood and walked over to the shelves, scanning the rows of books for anything similar. I needed more information on the Linberg's geography and recent events to find answer to the case and the potential involvement of dark organizations. I pulled out a few that relevant to geographical maps and historical records on secret organizations.
Among them, I found a detailed map of Linberg and surrounding territories. The map was faded with age, but still readable. I spread it out on the desk, tracing my finger over the major places and trade routes, noting the areas where the recent abductions had occurred. It was no coincidence that the disappearances seemed to happen near isolated and less-patrolled regions which perfect for secret activities to go unnoticed.
As I studied the evidence hours, I identified five key areas that have a high chance of being potential hideouts. I wrote a report recommending that these areas be investigated and listed potential strategies for each location, and a plan to send scouts to gather intel.
Once I finished, I leaned back and reviewed everything I'd written, going over the notes to ensure nothing was missing. Satisfied, I called for a maid.
A soft knock came at the door, and the maid stepped in, bowing slightly. "Good evening, young lord. How may I assist you tonight?"
"Could you hand this to my father?" I replied, handing her the neatly organized stack of notes.
She nodded with a polite smile. "Of course, young lord."
As the door closed behind her, I began tidying up the room, carefully putting away the books, maps, and any scattered papers. Once I'm done, I headed to my bedroom to rest.
...
Another day began as I woke up, fixed my bed, and started getting ready. Suddenly, a knock interrupted. I opened the door to find Sir Roswell standing there.
"Good morning, young lord. Your father wants to see you."
"Okay," I replied.
We made our way to my father's office, where we greeted each other.
"Did I interrupt your morning, Lucy?" my father asked.
"Not really. I was just planning to read some books," I replied.
He laughed. "You should prepare for tomorrow."
"Mother won't let me help. She said it's a surprise," I explained.
"You're right, I can't help either, not with this problem," he said, with a sigh.
I tried to comfort him. "I think Mother will understand. Besides, she seems to be enjoying it."
He laughed again. "You're right."
Just then, a sudden knock interrupted us. Three tall men in red hoods, their faces hidden, entered. They exuded the aura of veteran soldiers. The tallest one, a muscular figure about six and a half feet tall, stepped forward and greeted us.
"It's an honor to meet you, Count Luke. My name is John, and we are here at your request," he said, bowing slightly.
"I'm surprised the Red Corps mobilized so quickly on my request," Father replied.
The Red Corp was one of the Church's elite agencies, with different classes specializing in hunting and investigating supernatural cases across the country.
"We were near Linberg when we received your request, so we came here straight away," John explained.
"That's great," Father said, handing a stack of papers to each of the men. "This is the report and plan for this operation."
The thin man with a metallic red glow in his left eye glanced at me and asked, "Is it alright for the Count's son to be here?" His gaze lingered on me.
Father replied with pride, "He may look young, but he is contributing to this operation."
I stood up and introduced myself. "Greetings, my name is Lucian."
The man twitched slightly and nodded but didn't say anything else. "If you say so, Count."
As they read through the papers and discussed the operation for about an hour, we were nearing the end of the conversation.
Father spoke up, "Before the operation begins, you're welcome to stay here."
"Thank you, Count Luke," John and his men said, following the maid as they left the room.
Father turned to Sir Roswell. "Tyrion, go to the knights and begin preparations."
"As you command, sir," Tyrion replied, then left the room as well.
...
As they left, my father asked while pointing to the paper, "Do you know these three organizations?"
"I've only heard of two of them," I replied, pointing out the ones I recognized.
Father turn serious as he explained. "There are three notorious organizations operating in the dark: the Demon Faction, the Desire Lunatics, and the Sinners. Each of these factions has its own agenda, but they all share one common goal chaos and destruction."
He paused for a moment, making sure I was paying attention.
"The Demon Faction," he continued, "is said to have deep, dark ties to ancient history and forbidden knowledge. They worship evil entities and can summon and control demons. Their goal is to bring the power of their demon god into this world."
"The Desire Lunatics," he added "are a group of deranged individuals driven by their insatiable lust for power and pleasure. They prey on the weak, using mind control, charm, and manipulation to satisfy their depraved desires. They have no regard for the suffering they cause."
"And then there are the Sinners," he said. "They are perhaps the most dangerous of them all. They believe in a twisted form of redemption. These individuals commit heinous acts, all in the name of their warped ideas. To them, there is no difference between good and evil. They are willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to further their cause."