The day was not yet over when Klemens Acker jokingly referred to it as evening. As Armbruster burst out of the bar, he instinctively looked up in confusion. In the few seconds it had taken him to descend from the bar's rooftop to the street, Clear Glades had undergone a dramatic shift in lighting. Previously, the settlement had been bathed in reflected and refracted sunlight, with only the zenith sky visible through the dense forest canopy. Now, heavy clouds and a creeping ground fog had set in, dimming visibility to about a hundred meters and transforming the warm, sunny day into a scene of misty, autumnal twilight.
The change seemed to evoke satisfaction rather than discomfort among the similars traversing the streets, as if an overdue event had finally arrived. Armbruster, however, snapped out of his admiration, realizing the fog might severely hinder his task. Without hesitation, he dashed to his partner, who was still lying nonchalantly atop the peculiar mount.
— Daniela, wake up! — he shouted, ensuring his voice wouldn't carry to the suspected Prism agent's location.
— Huh?... What nooOOOW?! — Daniela yelped as she was unceremoniously knocked off her mount by a brisk shove from Armbruster's palm against her shoulder. Despite her apparent lack of coordination, she managed to land on her feet and swung a half-hearted punch at him. — Are you completely nuts?!
Interrupting her seemed to be Armbruster's calling. This time, he grabbed her forearm and turned it toward the silhouette Klemens had spotted. Luckily for Armbruster, the figure was still there, now more visible thanks to the cooling air that had dispersed most of the crowd near the confectionery.
— Huh? — Daniela murmured, staring not at the indicated direction but at her own dangling hand. — What are you even pointing at? I can't see a damn thing!
— Are you completely clueless?! — Armbruster snapped, shaking her arm as though hoping to restore her focus. — Who did we come here to find?!
— Umm… The forest, the scenery, mushrooms, maybe? — she slurred sarcastically, only to sense the sheer force in his grip—enough to suggest he might shove her face-first into the nearest wooden wall. She immediately backtracked. — Okay, okay! Calm down! We came for Guber. I remember now.
— Good, — Armbruster grumbled, letting go of her arm. — Here's the plan: the captain's still missing, so we need to act as tactically as possib—oh, forget it!
His hastily conceived strategy evaporated the moment the figure slipped inside the confectionery. — Quickly!
Armbruster lunged toward the confectionery, grabbing Daniela by her back as he surged forward. The impact sent her stumbling, tripping over everything in her path. Twice during their forty-meter dash, they collided with unsuspecting similars on the street: first, a tall young man engrossed in a document, and later, an elderly woman who appeared to be the village's senior-most resident.
— Are you out of your mind?! — Daniela shouted, elbowing Armbruster in the chest to create distance before spinning around to assess the chaos they'd caused.
The elderly woman glared at them as if they were lunatics, while the young man simply walked away, entirely unbothered, as though he deemed the agents unworthy of his attention. Armbruster, on the other hand, was already fixated on the confectionery.
— "Sugar Dream," — he read the shop's name with an air of smug satisfaction, running his thumb across his other fingers. — How poetic, if you think about it.
— What the hell is she doing here, anyway?! — Daniela fumed, ignoring how ridiculous Armbruster's statement sounded. — From what I've heard about her, she doesn't even like sweets!
The confectionery itself was almost identical to Klemens' bar, save for its large display windows showcasing goods and the absence of a smoking area. It was another plain wooden box, lacking even an attempt at a second floor.
— Who cares? She's here now, and nothing's going to separate us from her. Let's go. — Armbruster rubbed his hands together, ready to charge inside.
Before he could move, Daniela shoved him with such force that he stumbled back several meters, nearly falling.
— "Let's go"? — she mocked, throwing her arms out. — You were just lecturing me about being tactical. Stay outside and make sure she doesn't slip away!
— Ah, of course! What was I thinking?! — Armbruster laughed heartily, slapping his chest. — I forgot you always agree with the captain on everything… But sorry, I can't trust such a critical task to you.
Adopting the tone of a mentor calming an impulsive student, he ruffled her hair—utterly ignoring the presence of her helmet.
Predictably, this infuriated Daniela. Her retaliation came swift and fierce: a resounding slap against his helmet that nearly sent him into the confectionery wall.
— You think I'm so incompetent I can't just talk to her?! Get lost, "Bassbuster!"
The distortion of his surname struck Armbruster like a psychological slap, and the real slap came next. Daniela drew her weapon—a blade resembling a flissa, with a narrow edge, a pale-brown handle, and no guard. Holding it like a car's gear lever, she swung it downward.
The resulting strike produced an intangible phenomenon: shimmering chevrons, composed of an otherworldly substance, cascaded toward the ground at five meters per second. They made no sound, did not interact with the earth, and seemed like nothing more than an eerie display. Without flinching, Armbruster stood his ground, his breath steady.
After several seconds of silence, Daniela scoffed, sheathed her weapon, and strode into the confectionery with a victorious air.
— Not so hard to get her to do something useful, — Armbruster muttered under his breath, barely suppressing laughter. Attempting to contact his captain again, he received the same frustrating error message. Switching to another contact, he called:
— Herbert, do you copy?
— Loud and clear, — came the reply, in a voice markedly different from those of the previously described characters.
— Everything okay over there? — Friedrich began with an almost irrelevant question.
— I'm the one who should be asking that, — Herbert chuckled. — Everything's fine here. Makes me want to step outside and capture this view with an Uhaltun Essibu.
The view was indeed breathtaking. The town's orange lanterns, previously dormant, now cast a warm glow through the fog, transforming Clear Glades into a cozy, luminescent haven beneath its leafy canopy.
— Glad to hear it. Just letting you know we've split up looking for you-know-who, and I think we're on the verge of finding her. Meanwhile, I can't get through to the captain, so could you keep an eye on the mounts?
— By Genal Prime, what next? — Herbert sighed theatrically, though not with true annoyance. — Medic, trainer, and now animal caretaker. Thanks for not asking me to fix the transport as well.
— Sorry, but it's just how it is. I don't believe Guber is deliberately avoiding us, but you know the saying—trust but verify.
— I get it, — Herbert replied, more out of courtesy than genuine understanding. — Emotions shouldn't interfere with the mission. You can count on me. Just make sure that lady of yours doesn't do anything reckless.
— Thanks, — Friedrich concluded, ending the call. He then decided to circle around the confectionery for a better vantage point.
The sweet aroma of confectionery filled the air. Butter croissants nestled in open-topped straw baskets. Dark raisin-studded muffins perched on round iron cooling racks. An array of cookies lay displayed in glass pedestal bowls, alongside countless other treats that lent the shop an air of care and charm. It was a stark contrast to the chaotic heaps of food typical in grocery stores. Overhead, magical lamps shaped like ellipses cast a warm yellow glow, illuminating the room.
All the hallmarks of a classic pastry shop were present, yet none of this initially captivated Daniela Geissler—not, at least, in the first two seconds.
— Oh wow, is that pudding with coffee sauce?! — Walking confidently toward the counter, Daniela abruptly veered left as if drawn by an invisible force. — Who would've thought you could find something like this in a regular pastry shop! Ah, right, coffee's a legal drink… Hmm, anyway!
Her boots clattered on the wooden planks as she reached the empty counter, unsheathed her sword, gripped the blade without any apparent concern for injury, and rapped the hilt against the bell.
— Waiter, two cups of coffee and a pudding with coffee sauce, please!
The bell's chime echoed into the stillness. Daniela found herself alone in the room, surrounded by counters on three sides, a street-facing entrance on the fourth, and two large display windows. While it wasn't unusual for Daniela to find herself in peculiar situations, even she couldn't ignore the oddness of this scene: a fully operational pastry shop, brightly lit in what was still far from the dead of night, yet devoid of any workers or customers.
— Did everyone go to the restroom at the same time? Probably bad inventory if that's the case… — She tossed her sword into the air, catching it deftly by the hilt before lowering it to the ground behind the counter. — And Guber's in on it too? So, even agents of Prism have their weaknesses…
Her communicator crackled to life as Armbruster's voice came through:
— What's going on in there?
— Nothing, Fred! — Daniela yelled indignantly, bringing her wrist closer to her mouth. — No sign of the person we're looking for. In fact, no signs of anyone at all. Just objects. Wooden ones and deliciously suspicious ones…
— What nonsense are you spouting this time? Nobody's in the pastry shop, or what?
— Yep, — she replied, her tone now casual as her eyes settled on a harmless-looking poppy seed donut.
— Nobody at all? — Friedrich repeated, skeptical.
— Mhm, — Daniela confirmed, picking up a donut, taking a bite, and chewing carefully to avoid obnoxiously loud noises near the communicator.
— If it weren't for the fact that I'm behind the building and seeing the open garage, with no one around… and…
At that moment, a creaking sound came from the door behind the display case, leading into the shop's back area. Daniela froze mid-bite, the last crumbs catching in her throat as she spun around in alarm. But it was too late—the slightly ajar door had already returned to its fully closed position with a loud slam.
— What's going on? Did you decide to wreck the shop while you're in there? — Friedrich's voice reached her through the communicator, having caught the noise.
— Cough, cough… — Daniela tried to clear her throat, struggling to regain her breath. — No, you idiot! There's someone here, and they're… cough… trying to scare me to death!
She vaulted over the counter, accidentally kicking the metal cash register off its perch in the process. Her vision blurred with tears from the coughing fit, rendering her clumsy.
— Coughing isn't a symptom of a heart attack, — Armbruster quipped dryly. — Stay where you are. Something's off here.
— Dream on! — Daniela barked before shoving the door handle downward and charging into the kitchen, determined to find whoever had opened the door. — I nearly keeled over, and you want me to just stand here like an idiot—
Her words were cut short by the clattering of metal bowls, pots, and other kitchenware, drowning out any further commentary.
— She "nearly keeled over," — Friedrich muttered to himself, cutting the connection and folding his hidden communicator screen away. — Whether it's a heart attack or inhaling 'Quiet Stench,' the results are the same…
He approached the door linking the garage, where several cargo carts were parked, to the rest of the shop.
— What's with this nonsense… The garage is open, the shelves are stocked with random junk—anyone could just waltz in and take what they want… — He scratched the back of his helmeted head, a difficult feat given his armor. — Could Guber have locked all the workers in a closet and fled? What a… holy…!
As irony would have it, just as Friedrich Armbruster, minding his own business, prepared to open the door quietly, it flung open with such force that it nearly came off its hinges. The powerful blow from the other side slammed into Friedrich's left side. While his armor, as sturdy as the door itself, absorbed the impact without injury, the sheer force knocked him off his feet, sending him hurtling backward into a shelf piled high with assorted metal odds and ends meant for carriage maintenance. The clang of dislodged tools accompanied his abrupt landing, and Friedrich's head smacked into the edge of the shelf.
Flat on his back amid a heap of fallen tools, Friedrich grimaced. I should have seen that coming, he thought, but the moment for hindsight was long gone. Shaking his head clear, he scrambled to his feet, sending screws and bolts clattering to the ground, and assessed the situation.
First, his eyes darted to the street, where a figure had bolted from the garage moments earlier. Then, he glanced into the now-open doorway but found nothing unusual—just a short, dim corridor leading to another closed door.
Friedrich sprang into action, sprinting from the garage and onto a narrow stone road. While designed for carts, it resembled more of a pedestrian walkway. His sharp gaze followed the figure, who had veered left toward a cluster of buildings and narrow alleyways. The swirling mist blanketing Clear Glades turned even this relatively simple chase into a challenge. The buildings were typical one-story wooden structures, with slightly taller ones looming further back in what appeared to be a different district. A nearby ball court lay empty and forlorn, its use indefinitely postponed until the weather improved.
But something—or rather, someone—stood out against this mundane backdrop.
A pale-skinned woman, her hair seemingly blonde but shimmering with an unmistakable white tint, crouched beside her bassbuster. Her nondescript gray eyes and round face lent her an unremarkable appearance, yet Friedrich's interest was piqued by her current activity. She was methodically loading gear onto her four-legged companion, its massive body perfectly still despite the clinking of equipment.
Friedrich approached cautiously. As he drew closer, the bassbuster suddenly turned its head, swiveling nearly 180 degrees with uncanny precision, and squared up for what could only be described as a charge. Despite the narrow confines of the street, the massive creature maneuvered with unnerving agility, lowering itself into an unmistakably aggressive stance.
Instinctively, Friedrich reached for his sword, but the woman intervened. Bottles of liquid spilled from her gear as she hastily stepped between the creature and Friedrich, stroking the bassbuster's head while murmuring, "Easy, easy, easy, easy…" The animal relaxed almost immediately, its posture softening as it resumed a neutral stance.
Friedrich took the cue, letting go of his weapon's hilt.
But the woman's composure gave way to sharp annoyance as she turned to him, her voice low but tinged with exasperation:
— What are you doing?! she demanded, her voice revealing a reluctance to raise it, as though unaccustomed to confrontation. — Don't you know how they react to sudden approaches like that?
— I deeply apologize, Friedrich said, his tone placating as he cautiously stepped closer. He gestured toward the garage. — You see that building?
— Yeah, so? The woman's voice softened only slightly as her gaze flicked toward the garage. — And are you seeing all these bottles you made me drop?
— Yes, and I'm terribly sorry for this terrible incident. Allow me to help you gather them. Friedrich bent down, quickly collecting the plastic bottles strewn across the cobblestone road. As he handed them back to her, he asked, — I only need to know one thing—just one. Someone bolted out of that garage a moment ago. Did you see them?
The woman took the bottles, juggling them awkwardly as she answered, — Sorry, I didn't see anyone. I must've been inside the shop when it happened.
She nodded toward a nearby store, clearly marked as an outfitter's supply shop.
Friedrich sighed and muttered, — Wonderful. Just perfect… He crouched down, resting a gloved hand on the damp cobblestones as if to steady himself, then exhaled heavily. — This is going to cost me my job.
The woman hesitated before crouching beside him, her tone gentler now:
— I… I don't know what to say. Is there anything I can do to help?
— What's your name? Friedrich asked as he fiddled with a clasp near his neck.
— Me? Uh, Mari, she answered, the words tumbling out so quickly it sounded like her name was Meme Mari.
Friedrich finally located the button he was searching for and pressed it, loosening the grip of his armored helmet.
— Well, Mari… Friedrich pulled off his helmet, revealing a young face, perhaps twenty-one years old, with a narrow forehead, deep green, weary eyes, and a short beard. His dark hair clung to his face, damp from either exertion or the stifling confines of his armor.
Mari studied him for a moment before sighing.
— Looks like I really can't do much for you here after all, huh?
Climbing onto her bassbuster, she adjusted her seat and prepared to leave. But fate intervened yet again.
Out of nowhere, Daniela Geissler burst from the garage like a bullet, her speed nearing twenty meters per second. The sudden motion startled the bassbuster, which leapt back half a meter, its hooves skidding on the cobblestones.
— So, bassbuster, found what you were looking for?! Daniela shouted, her lower face smeared with what looked suspiciously like the entire dessert menu of the pastry shop. When she caught sight of the creature she'd unwittingly referenced, her expression changed to one of astonishment:
— Oh, sh—
Chaos erupted. The bassbuster, now beyond Mari's control, prepared to charge, while Daniela, undeterred, drew her sword and raised it skyward as though leading an army into battle. White chevrons of semi-tangible energy formed in an instant, creating a vertical path upward. Daniela planted her foot on it, and the force launched her into the air like a rocket.
The bassbuster crashed headfirst into the chevrons, dissipating the substance in a white burst that faded into the mist. Yet more chevrons appeared mid-air, horizontal this time, creating a path that Daniela surfed down toward the convoy's distant position. Within moments, she was gone.
Mari, still astride her now-cowering bassbuster, shouted in exasperation:
— What the hell is going on here?! Are you chasing zaynes or something?!
— Zaynes are easier to catch, Friedrich muttered, slumping against the cobblestones.
Mari sighed, stroking her shaken mount. — It's okay, boy. It's okay… You're a good bassbuster, yes you are… But her words seemed directed as much at herself as at the creature, which remained seated on the edge of the garage, visibly gathering its composure.
Leopold Geissler, the captain of the Division for the Oversight of Highly Dangerous Substances, fixed his gaze on Friedrich Armbruster, allowing the weight of his cryptic statement to hang in the air. The group stood in tense silence as the mist thickened around them, softening the glow of the streetlights and muting the already subdued atmosphere of Clear Glades. Finally, the captain turned toward Friedrich, a glint of dark amusement evident in his voice.
— You didn't understand me, did you, Armbruster?
— Permission to clarify, sir? Friedrich ventured cautiously, the unease in his tone betraying his confusion.
Leopold exhaled audibly, turning slightly to face the rest of his team, then back to Friedrich, his hand gesturing almost mockingly toward the garage and the nearby alleyways.
— I said I saw her too. But the Guber you saw— he paused, leaning slightly closer to emphasize his point, —wasn't really there.
The cryptic remark drew a skeptical glance from Friedrich. Meanwhile, Herbert Lenz, the other G2-class agent, crossed his arms, clearly puzzled but remaining silent. Daniela Geissler, slouching beside her father, didn't react at all, as if detached from the conversation altogether.
— Sir, with all due respect, Friedrich began hesitantly, if she "wasn't really there," then who or what have we been chasing all this time?
Leopold chuckled lowly, a sound devoid of humor. He took a deliberate step closer to Friedrich, as though savoring his subordinate's growing discomfort.
— That's the question you should have been asking yourself from the moment you laid eyes on her in this town, Leopold said, his voice dropping to a cold whisper.
Herbert interjected cautiously, his tone measured:
— Captain, are you implying that the Guber we're pursuing is some kind of decoy?
Leopold tilted his head slightly toward Herbert, acknowledging the question but answering indirectly.
— Let's just say that an agent of her caliber would not be caught so easily, even by a squad as experienced as ours. I wouldn't put it past her—or those she may be working with—to use whatever means necessary to keep us distracted.
Daniela finally lifted her head at this, though her expression remained blank.
— So, what's the plan now? Keep chasing ghosts until we're called back? she muttered, her voice barely audible but carrying a faint edge of defiance.
Leopold ignored her, instead turning back to Friedrich.
— Armbruster, you said you saw her enter the confectionery. Describe what happened afterward—every detail, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
Friedrich, though still uneasy, recounted the events again with as much precision as he could muster. He described how the figure disappeared into the building, the strange emptiness of the confectionery, and the inexplicable behavior of the garage door. He even recounted the interaction with Mari and her bassbuster, though he left out the part where he'd nearly given up hope of accomplishing anything useful.
When Friedrich finished, Leopold remained silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the ground as if piecing together a puzzle.
— It doesn't add up, Leopold said finally, his voice low but intense. If she was there, why didn't she engage? And if she wasn't there, who orchestrated all of this?
Herbert spoke up again, his tone more analytical:
— It's possible she's testing us, captain. Maybe this entire scenario is a diversion while she completes her real objective elsewhere.
Leopold nodded slowly, his expression darkening.
— A plausible theory. But we're not leaving this town until we know for sure. Whether she's here in body or simply in spirit, we're going to smoke her out.
He turned sharply toward Friedrich and Daniela.
— You two: split up. Check every possible exit from this area. If she's still here, she'll have to move eventually. Herbert and I will inspect the garage and the confectionery again. And if you spot her— Leopold's voice grew cold and sharp, —do not engage alone. Call for backup immediately. Is that clear?
— Yes, sir! Friedrich and Daniela responded in unison, though Friedrich's voice carried a note of urgency, while Daniela's was more subdued.
Without another word, the group dispersed, each agent disappearing into the mist-shrouded streets of Clear Glades. As Friedrich moved toward his assigned area, he couldn't shake the lingering tension in the air. The captain's words echoed in his mind: "Whether she's here in body or simply in spirit…"
Friedrich tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, his unease mounting. Whatever they were dealing with, it was becoming increasingly clear that this was no ordinary mission.
— "Armbruster! Armbruster, respond!" — came a voice from the armor encasing his wrist.
Friedrich glanced at it, hesitated for a second, then brought it closer to his mouth, slid back two latches, and began to speak:
— "Captain Geisler?"
— "Who else do you think it could be?!" — barked a low, rather unpleasant voice from the speakers. — "Where are you, and what's going on over there?"
— "Me? I... well, I..." — Friedrich looked around until he noticed a wooden sign on a house opposite the confectionery, bearing the needed name. — "I'm in the Forty-Sixth Alley, yes! And, uh, why am I telling you this? It's nearly at the edge of the promenade; you can come and check for yourself... Oh, wait, no. Don't come! I'm, uh, without my armo—"
Friedrich clenched his teeth and whispered:
— "Damn it, what nonsense am I spouting..."
— "What, did you sniff something funny over there?" — asked the increasingly exasperated captain. — "Can you explain the situation properly?"
Apparently, the captain's sudden reappearance from wherever he'd been had the same effect on Agent Armbruster as a vibrating washing machine does on cats.
— "Well, uh... Captain, the circumstances are... extremely strange..."
— "Strange for you? Strange for me too," — Geisler interrupted curtly. — "Did you find Guber yet or not?"
Swallowing hard as he braced for his fate, Armbruster muttered:
— "No, sir, Captain Geisler..."
— "I see," — came the immediate reply. What followed, however, caught Friedrich off guard. — "Care to explain why Daniela was gliding on her air paths over the village?"
— "Uh... Well, there was a minor incident," — Friedrich began hesitantly, but then spoke more confidently. — "She suddenly appeared in front of a stopped bassbuster and had to dodge to avoid being hit."
— "Ah, I see. I hope she was pursuing our client at the time?" — the captain's voice took on a scrutinizing tone.
— "Yes, that's exactly why we're here," — Friedrich reassured him nonchalantly.
— "Well, then let her live a little longer..." — Geisler mused aloud. — "Now, report: what happened on your end?"
— "As you ordered, I—"
— "Wait a moment. Are you near the confectionery 'Sugar Dream'?"
— "Yes, Captain," — Armbruster replied, puzzled.
— "Then hold off on your report for now. Herbert and I, along with this lady, will come to you directly. Over and out."
— "Uh..." — Friedrich murmured to himself. — "So Daniela's with him? Why couldn't he just ask her about the paths himself then?.."
— "You know," — came a sarcastic remark from Marie, who had approached the agent unnoticed, — "I think I'll abandon any attempts to leave here until you do."
— "Wise decision," — Armbruster remarked, donning his helmet again. — "What's your surname?"
— "Why do you need that?"
— "You might end up as a witness to whatever our captain decides," — Friedrich explained, now fully encased in his armor.
— "Once I witness his decisions with my own eyes, sure. Until then, my name will suffice, sir... Oh, and you haven't introduced yourself, so what's this about anyway?" — Marie huffed, turning away.
— "Agent of G2-class, Department for the Control of Highly Dangerous Substances, Friedrich Armbruster," — he introduced himself immediately. — "I might add, I've told you more than I was obligated to. Your turn now."
— "G2? Really?" — Marie asked, slightly surprised, turning halfway toward him.
— "Don't I look the part?" — Friedrich raised an eyebrow, turning back at her.
— "That's not it. You seemed worried about losing your position, if I recall. I thought G-class agents couldn't just be dismissed for some mistakes..."
— "In theory, yes," — Friedrich assured her, turning back. — "In practice, it's entirely different. Now, your surname?"
— "Breiner," — she answered pensively.
— "See? All that arguing over one word..."
From behind the trees lining the promenade emerged a group of three similars. Leading them was none other than Captain Leopold Geisler, who had previously been declared missing in the Ancient Archive. Naturally, he walked in the center, slightly ahead of his subordinates, his hands clasped behind his back. To his left was Daniela Geisler, head lowered suspiciously and her left arm hanging limply while her right lightly gripped the hilt of her weapon. To his right was an agent yet unfamiliar with the pure air of the Clear Fields but externally indistinguishable from other Department operatives. This agent marched with unwavering confidence, one hand gripping the hilt of a sword in its sheath tightly, his whole posture almost parade-like.
— "Here we are," — Geisler announced as the group approached Armbruster. — "Now you can continue if it's worth it."
Out of curiosity, Friedrich glanced at Marie, who had retreated several meters and was now scrutinizing the Department agents intently. Satisfied with her careful observation, he began laying everything out piece by piece. Friedrich described his observations from Clemens Acker's bar rooftop, briefly mentioning the heart-to-heart he'd had up there but glossing over Daniela's activities during that time. Then he recounted the confectionery.
Leopold Geisler listened without much interest until Friedrich began detailing the suspiciously empty yet operational-looking building, as well as an entity that had swiftly evaded the Department, "nearly attacking them," as Friedrich described the unnerving incident with the door. At this point, Geisler started listening intently to every word.
Herbert Lenz — the agent standing to the captain's right — had remained motionless and observant until the confectionery was mentioned. At that point, he began studying the building and the open garage intently. Daniela Geisler swayed slightly throughout the report, never raising her head, even when Friedrich mentioned her specifically.
Friedrich concluded with the incident involving the bassbuster.
Geisler, staring at Friedrich for a full ten seconds, seemed about to ask a question. Instead, he turned to Lenz:
— "What's your take on this, Herbert?"
— "On what exactly, Captain?" — Lenz clarified, turning toward Geisler.
— "On the whole situation, of course," — Leopold replied with a note of irritation, as if the subject were obvious.
— "Nothing concrete. I've certainly never encountered anything this... mystical before, but every mystery has a solution. It's just that here, the solution is too..." — Herbert exhaled meaningfully. — "...non-obvious."
— "Either it's highly non-obvious, or it's the opposite — far too simple. Tell me, Armbruster," — the captain addressed the G2 agent with a sardonic tone, — "have you seen Guber today?"
— "Yes, Captain," — Friedrich confirmed, wondering what use there was in merely having seen her.
— "I have too. And yet, she's not actually there." — Geisler concluded, baring his teeth in a grim smile, though the armor concealed it.
Friedrich remained silent, unsure of what those words meant. What did he mean by "not actually there"? Did Geisler mean he'd seen the Prism agent from another vantage point before she entered the confectionery? Or something else entirely? And what did "she's not actually there" imply? Friedrich dared not voice these questions, rightly suspecting that Captain Geisler would explain it all in due time.
— "To be more precise, she's 'out of our reach,'" noted Herbert, pronouncing the last five words distinctly, a peculiar hallmark of his speech, followed by a muffled chuckle.
— "Not a significant observation; she'll be within it soon enough," Geisler waved dismissively.
Armbruster shot a mildly disdainful glance at Lenz, one that conveyed, "Why does an agent of my class have less leeway in speaking to our superiors than him?" But his interest in the captain's explanation outweighed his irritation.
— "Here's the situation," Leopold began finally. "As soon as we split up, I entered the Ancient Archive building, went to the reception, and was met almost immediately by the head librarian. Quite spry for her age, I must say," Geisler added with a sharp "Ha!" at the end. The others, except the surprised Marie, acted as though they hadn't heard it.
— "So, I ask her straight away: where's our long-suffering Martina hiding? She tells me she was just here but ran off to Amber Park. At that point, I thought all was lost—once again, we'd missed our chance to grab that slippery little..." Geisler trailed off, catching himself. "I was about to leave when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted—guess who?!" His voice crescendoed, inviting the obvious answer.
— "Martina, clearly," Herbert shrugged, seeming to know that Armbruster wouldn't respond for at least another ten seconds.
— "Exactly!" Geisler jabbed a finger in the air, bending his elbow theatrically. "I saw her for just a couple of seconds in the doorway connecting the reception to the Archive's inner rooms, but you understand—there's no mistaking her. A moment later, I realized what I'd seen, looked back, and—poof—she was gone. Naturally, I lost it, thought the head librarian, uh... what's her name—Barms—was hiding her from us. I drew my sword and went into the Archive to search for her. Barms was shouting something, but I didn't care; you know what's at stake for me. That's why I was gone so long—I searched that Archive top to bottom. Even the guard tried to throw me out, but I handled him easily, of course. Didn't find Guber, though. Not that I was surprised; none of us could hope to match her speed—four times the speed of sound! Still, I searched out of sheer desperation. For the mess I caused, I'm pretty sure I'll be removed from this post soon," Geisler concluded grimly, though his habitual sardonic grin lingered.
— "But Captain, if you knew you couldn't catch her, why all the commotion?" Lenz asked, his voice tinged not with sympathy but with a similar wryness.
— "Like I said, I'd lost my mind by then. Initially, I thought it was just hallucinations from a string of failures and the threat of dismissal for 'incompetence.' That's how I rationalized her silhouette in that doorway. But now you say you saw her too..." Geisler paused. "And you didn't find her either... Plus, who else could've slammed that door into you so hard?" He let out an almost manic chuckle.
Friedrich, trying to piece this together, thought that the captain was planning to bring Martina Guber before the Parliamentary Court for obstructing and assaulting Department agents, using the evening's events in the Clear Fields as evidence.
— "Captain, for the sake of Genala Prime, let's not rush," Lenz interjected, raising his palm. "We still need to figure out what's happening here. Your case is clear enough, but this confectionery raises a lot of questions."
— "By the way, Herbert, did you see any customers going into that shop?" Friedrich asked, thinking Lenz or the Geislers might have noticed something when they turned into the alley.
— "Yeah, and their faces looked confused," Herbert replied nonchalantly. "And if you're planning to prosecute her, keep in mind that our only witness is the bar owner."
— "Details, gentlemen," Geisler assured, cracking his knuckles. "The main thing is results. For now, we stay here, figure out how she's been throwing us off, and then—"
— "Excuse me for interrupting!"
The voice, daring to cut off Geisler's tirade, belonged to Marie Breiner. Her audacity shocked not only Armbruster and Lenz but even Daniela, who raised her head for the first time since arriving with her father and the Department's jack-of-all-trades agent.
— "Young lady, we are in the midst of—"
— "Yes, I know, forgive me, for the sake of Genala Prime, but I think I can help," Breiner said without acknowledging any authority from Geisler or Lenz.
— "Oh, really? And how?" Geisler inquired with genuine interest, his irritation unable to escalate further.
— "You're talking about Martina Guber, an agent of the 'Prism' Division... Could you describe her appearance?"
— "A typical young woman: black hair, blue eyes, just over a meter eighty tall, wearing a Prism cloak, sword on her belt. Pretty distinctive," Herbert answered, reasoning that if the captain was satisfied, he had no grounds for annoyance either.
— "Yes, that matches..." Marie muttered, rubbing her forehead. "Gentlemen, this young woman rented a bassbuster from me about ten minutes ago."
Silence.
— "Ten minutes ago?" Friedrich asked quietly. "Around the same time Clemens Acker and I saw her near the entrance to 'Sugar Dream'?"
— "What's so surprising, Armbruster? Four times the speed of sound! She showed off for you, dashed inside while you were running over, stuffed herself with pastries, saw Daniela, ducked into the garage, knocked you out with the door, and..." At that moment, something clicked in Geisler's mind.
He froze, like a computer trying to process an overwhelming volume of data.
— "Yes, Captain Geisler," Friedrich said. "Ms. Breiner claims Martina rented a bassbuster from her. Meanwhile, whatever hit me with the door bolted toward that district," Friedrich gestured toward the slightly taller buildings beyond the one-story wooden structures. "At the time, Ms. Breiner was inside, buying supplies for her..." He turned to Marie, inviting her to continue.
— "Well, I'm traveling north with two bassbusters for an expedition into some hard-to-reach places, stopping in various towns and renting one out to make extra money," Breiner explained. "And yes, I'm puzzled too. Why did Yomer, who reacted so sharply to you and your colleague, stay calm when that thing sped by and hit you with the door?"
— "But you said you were inside at the time, so you couldn't have seen that? Oh, right, if he'd reacted, there'd hardly be anything left of the shop. Makes sense," Friedrich answered his own question.
— "This is... bizarre," Herbert commented, pursing his lips.
— "Describe your encounter with her in detail, leaving nothing out," Geisler demanded abruptly.
Marie didn't argue and began recounting:
— "Well, I turned into the alley for the shop here, dismounted from Yomer, and looked around when she approached me slowly. I thought, 'Strange, where'd she come from? She wasn't nearby when I entered the alley.' I ride pretty fast, so to me, it looked like she'd jumped off the roof. That Prism cloak of hers was unmistakable, so I quickly shifted my focus to the bags hanging from Yomer, planning what supplies to buy. But then I realized she was heading straight for me, walking leisurely. She asked, 'Is this bassbuster for rent?' I was surprised, since there's no sign indicating the Unnamed is for rent,"—no one commented on the odd nickname—"I answered, 'Yes, how'd you guess?' She said, 'Just a hunch. What else would one girl need a second bassbuster for?' I said, 'So, are you taking it?' She replied, 'Perhaps. Can I rent it for two days?' I said, 'No, sorry, only one.' She asked, 'Even for a higher fee?' and smiled in a way that gave me the chills—kind of eerie. I told her no, probably not. Then she clarified: 'Even for 4,000 quons?' I froze, stunned. Four thousand for a rental? It seemed unbelievable. I turned to look her in the eye and saw she was dead serious. No joke, no mockery. So, I agreed to the standard procedure: providing personal data, Eon number, and specifying where to return the Unnamed. It took a minute and a half. She climbed on the bassbuster and, before I could wish her luck, she said, 'Be careful, Ms. Breiner. Bassbusters don't react well to sudden approaches, and there'll be at least three of those here soon.' I didn't understand what she meant. Figured it was some metaphor, maybe... I was too busy with my supplies to dwell on it."
The silence that followed was not merely quiet; it was a theatrical pause. Herbert stood motionless, as if rooted to the ground. Armbruster cast a loaded, puzzled glance at Captain Geisler, who chuckled grimly in his usual manner. Daniela, however, finally broke the silence:
"Could it be that we've had a hallucinogen leak? And none of this is actually real?.."