The clattering of boots against the metal rebounded the void passage to the vault. A woman in the middle and a couple of men followed after her.
She slid out her card and placed it on the blue screen at one side of the metal door.
"Certified ID Yulia Orks. Please enter."
With a beep noise, the door split open.
"From the Marine Division of Doomsday Order, Yulia Orks reporting sir."
The woman who picked up Fein from his sorrowful state, a said member of Doomsday Order or 'DOR', Yulia Orks faced her higher authority in virtual time on the blue screens.
"Please state your reason for intervening in the experiment and forcing a stop to it."
Yulia opened her mouth and pulled in a small breath. "With due respect, the experiment has already been concluded. I did not feel the need to prolong it whilst there remained a possible risk on most people's lives." Squinting her eyes, she said. "Little as it is, we've got the results."
As a willful failure on her part, (which she actually enjoyed witnessing) she wisely hid the incident that forced them out in the open.
"Really now." The hoarse male voice from the other side of the screen spoke. "How many candidates did you find for the nomination of beast slayers?"
"Out of 70 candidates, I nominate three names from the Lunia region." She puffed her chest and recited the names. "Ran Halveri, Kuina Lemberg and.." a little smirk appeared on her lips. "Fein Rasmond."
Quietness reigned on the other side of the screen. Yulia couldn't tell whether her higher up was dubious of her or surprised.
"How very unusual."
"Haha. Yes. Hence i decided to end the experiment."
"Make haste contacting the individuals. We have to eliminate all the beasts before the outbreak increases."
"Understood, sir. Then. I request permission from the Blessed City to allow the survivors from Novoulhea to enter. Our vessels with 156000 survivors will depart within 10 days."
"I'll have your request granted."
She raised her hand and saluted. "I'm heavily grateful sir!"
The blue screen dimmed before it darkened. As soon as the screen blackened, her assistant from beside mumbled.
"Are you sure ma'am?!"
"Hmn? About what?"
"To depart within 10 days? You know.. about our other vessel.."
"Yes. I very much do remember that."
"How are we going to rescue them in such a short time when we couldn't do that in two months?!"
Yulia smirked. "Don't worry. My guts say that we'll return successful this time." She turned her steps and proceeded to the exit, swaying her butt left and right. "Please give me the keys to room no 1234. We'll be done with it by that time."
"Yes ma'am!"
I feel so good!
Fein rubbed his head with a white towel. He could smell the scent of fruity shampoo coming off from his silky hair. The fragrance danced before his nose, reminding him his peaceful time in bath. He opened his eyes, that was closed out of satisfcation and saw a mark. The dark red spots of claw marks left by the beast were becoming more and more visible on his left shoulder. He ignored its presence and continued to rub his head.
The water here wasn't ice cold or muddy. The body wash was so creamy and foamy! The towel here is so soft and fluffly! What is it.. Heaven? I haven't felt so fresh for so long! If I remember correctly, the last time I bathed properly was 35 days ago. In other words, it's been 35 days since I've been thrown into this world. And I still couldn't find Rene.
Steadily his upbeat expression became grim.
He crouched down to untie the plastic bag off from his bandaged leg. While he did so, he recalled the medical unit of this Marine vessel pacing back and forth in a hurry to treat his injury. In the end he was left with a thickly taped foot and a cane.
He placed the rustling bag near the sink and put on a shirt that was provided to him. Without buttoning his shirt, with his bare chest, he went inside his room from the bathroom after a sigh.
Inside he found the woman in the red belt, with whom he lost contact right after boarding the vessel, Yulia Orks waiting for him. She sat on the neatly arranged sheets of the bed. Her arms supported her body, legs crossed, one on top of another. She swung her hanging foot.
"I don't recall inviting you here." Fein pulled down the towel from his shoulders. He said the above in the middle of his action.
"I don't require an invitation to enter any room."
Fein put the cane at one side of the couch and sat on it. "Mind if i asked what brought you here?"
"I'm here only for a little chat."
"I wonder what it must be for you to enter a personal room." Fein glared into her sharp eyes.
"Its to congratulate you." Yulia moved her arms and clapped. "Be happy. You've been nominated as a candidate for Beast Slayers."
"Why'd i be nominated? You must've already seen it with your crows that I couldn't kill that beast." Fein started to button his shirt.
"Except for that I've an entire logistical reason for your nomination in the Beast Slayers."
"And. What do they do?"
"Exactly what the name suggests. They kill beasts."
"Why did you think I'd agree with you or it'll even excite me?"
Yulia smiled. "Did I say you could decline?"
Fein was caught by surprise. Though he intended to mingle with the people in authorities he did not wish to become something as risky as a beast slayer.
"Very well. As it seems I can't refuse, I'd like to have a few of my questions answered first."
"I'm not obliged to answer you, am i?"
"Of course not. But you see. I don't sign a contract without reading it thoroughly."
"Heh. You really are a tough nut to crack."
"Ain't i?"
They both smiled, demeaning each other when someone knocked the door. He walked in with a file in his hand.
"Ma'am. We've lost contact with the last ET quarter. The people inside have been quarantined. They decided to proceed with absolute isolation for the time being." He raised his glances from the file to the boy sitting on the couch. "Fein?"
"Hey. Eudimor."
Eudimor wore that same white outfit as others with the green belt. His facial expression was something exactly opposite of his cheery nature. He looked like your work burdened middle aged office worker who was done with his life.
Eudimor shifted his sights to Yulia. "Why are you even talking with him after all he has done to our hideout?"
"I'm helpless, you know. He has a success rate of 72%. "
"So you were a DOR member yourself." Said Fein. "I suspected as much."
"Not only was Eudimor a member of DOR, the entire hideout belonged to us once."
"No wonder the hideout looked well structured."
Yulia took the files from his hands and went through them, meanwhile Fein stared at them working.
"Your belts. They symbolize something, don't they?"
"Yes." Replied Eudimor. "Blue belts are the lowest rank. Green comes in the middle and Red is the highest rank."
It means… Yulia Orks is a woman in the highest rank here.
Fein leaned closer to his thighs and rethought his questions.
There won't be a better chance than this.
Yulia handed the files back to Eudimor and glanced at Fein.
"Now. Let's hear your questions."
Fein crossed his fingers and smacked his lips. He had revised his questions properly this time. Starting with, "What is DOR?"