Later"Sir Rinko..! I... Hello! I wasn't expecting company in my tiny office."Arthur Hale greeted them nervously, scratching the back of his head. His cluttered workspace was far from the orderly environment Rinko had anticipated. Wires snaked across the floor, computers lined the desk, and multiple camera feeds played on various monitors. Hardware components were scattered throughout, a clear sign of ongoing technical work.Rinko sat in the only available chair, his sharp eyes scanning the chaotic space. Standing behind him was Selene, the head of Schnee Manor's staff, her expression poised yet curious. She was determined to assist Rinko in this growing mystery.Rinko wasted no time. "Can you explain this sudden cut—this black screen—right after Klein's accident in the footage?" he asked, gesturing to the relevant clip on one of the monitors.Arthur's eyes lit up with professional interest as he leaned forward. "Ah, yes... There are a few possible explanations," he began, tapping a keyboard to rewind the footage. "First, Technical Issues or Power Outage. But that's unlikely since both our hardware and software are fully operational and running on the latest systems. Plus, Atlas rarely—if ever—experiences power outages."He paused, adjusting his glasses. "Second, System Errors or Settings Misconfigurations. But again, not the case. We're operating with cutting-edge memory SSDs, capable of storing up to 950 petabytes of footage. Do you know how much that is?" Arthur's voice rose with enthusiasm. "With 70 cameras recording 1080p Full HD continuously, that's about 1,032.8 years' worth of footage! And we've never maxed out storage." He emphasized the last word proudly, clearly impressed by his own system's capabilities.(I actually did the math of this one)Rinko and Selene exchanged a brief, knowing glance before turning back to Arthur."That would mean... the blackout wasn't due to a system failure," Rinko pressed.Arthur nodded gravely. "Correct. Which leaves us with the last and most concerning possibility: Intentional Causes. Sabotage or tampering."His tone dropped, more serious now. "And judging by how precise and specific that blackout was... I'd bet good money it's sabotage. Someone knew exactly what they were doing."Rinko's gaze darkened as he absorbed Arthur's words. He clenched his fist slightly, feeling the weight of growing suspicion settle over him. Someone inside the manor was manipulating the system... and covering their tracks.Selene crossed her arms, her mind working through the implications. "So... you're suggesting that someone within the manor orchestrated Klein's so-called 'accident'... deliberately?"Arthur nodded firmly. "Yes... most likely." He raised his hands defensively, quickly adding, "But hey, it's not me! I barely leave this office—this place is my sanctuary! Do you have any idea how many maintenance requests I juggle daily? Between camera updates, system recalibrations, and network monitoring, I live in this room."He gestured dramatically to his thin arms, wiry from hours of technical work. "Look at me—do I look like I have the strength to push someone down a staircase? Or the patience to craft some elaborate murder plot? Seriously... what would I even gain from that?" His tone was indignant but laced with genuine exasperation.Selene studied him carefully, noting his sincerity, while Rinko remained silent, his mind turning over the possibilities.Arthur was impulsive but seemed earnest—likely too absorbed in his work to be involved in anything beyond the system itself.After a long pause, Rinko finally spoke, his voice low and commanding. "Regardless of intent or strength... tampering with the security system doesn't require physical power—just knowledge. And that makes you valuable in this investigation."Arthur blinked, caught off guard by the shift in tone. "Valuable? What are you saying...?""I'm saying," Rinko continued, "that if someone manipulated the system, they either know as much as you—or they had help from someone who does."Selene nodded slowly, the gravity of Rinko's reasoning settling in.The pieces were beginning to form a picture—one that pointed to a conspiracy lurking within the walls of the manor.Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his chair, the realization that he might be under suspicion weighing heavily on him. He scratched the back of his head, his earlier confidence slipping. "Look, I'm just a tech guy, alright? I make sure the cameras work, and I fix things when they break. I don't mess with anything that could get me into trouble. You think I'd jeopardize my whole career over some... accident?"Rinko leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "People do strange things when they feel cornered or when there's something to gain. Klein's accident wasn't just random. It was staged. And whoever did it has the expertise to cover their tracks. That's why we're here. To find out who's behind it."Selene stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Arthur, we're not accusing you. We just need your help. If you can think of anything, any anomaly in the system that doesn't make sense, anything you've seen or heard—now's the time to tell us."Arthur swallowed hard, looking between Rinko and Selene. His fingers drummed nervously on the desk as he stared at the multitude of screens surrounding him. "I... I don't know, okay? I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary. I've been so caught up in maintaining the system, that I haven't had time to really think about what's been happening outside these walls. But..." He paused, as if mulling over something.Rinko's patience was wearing thin, but he kept his tone steady. "But?"Arthur hesitated before finally speaking, his voice lower now. "There's something strange about the cameras in the lower section of the Manor. Not the ones I maintain directly, but the ones in that section. They've been... malfunctioning more than usual. It's like someone's been tampering with them, and when I try to reset them, they come back online with no sign of the issue." His face was creased in confusion. "It's not normal for the cameras down there to be glitching like this. They've been fine for years."Selene exchanged a look with Rinko, both of them now fully focused on Arthur. "What's in the lower section?" Rinko asked, his voice laced with curiosity.Arthur shrugged, but his unease was evident. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Just some storage rooms, some electronics and old guest suites that aren't in use. But if you're asking me... I think someone's been using those cameras as cover for whatever they're really doing down there."Rinko stood up abruptly, his thoughts racing. "We need to investigate the lower sections. Selene, you're with me. Arthur, you stay here. Keep the systems running. If you notice anything else, anything at all, contact me immediately."Arthur nodded quickly, his earlier flippancy replaced by a sharp tension. "Got it. But be careful. If someone's trying to cover their tracks that well, they're not going to just let you walk in there."Selene shot Arthur a grateful look, then turned to follow Rinko as he made his way toward the door. "Do you think we'll find something?"Rinko's jaw tightened. "I'm not sure. But whatever we find, it's the next step in uncovering the truth."The two of them moved down the corridors, the quiet hum of the manor around them a stark contrast to the rising tension in the air. Rinko's mind was consumed with the possibility that they were getting closer to something much bigger than a simple accident—and he knew that the closer they got, the more dangerous it would become.Lower SectionSelene led the way down the narrow, dimly lit corridor, the air growing cooler as they approached the door that marked the entrance to the Lower Section. It was an old wooden door, inconspicuous at first glance, but its heavy, weathered appearance seemed to guard secrets long buried. She paused in front of it, her hand resting on the worn handle."This is the Lower Section, Master Rinko," she said, her voice carrying a tone of reverence. She pushed the door open slowly, revealing a metal trapdoor beneath them, barely visible in the dim light. "This is where we store old gadgets, outfits, and materials that we keep for future reference or just because they're relics of the past... personal history. It's a sort of repository for things that have no real use anymore but still hold some value." She paused before turning to Rinko.She continued, "It was Willow's father—your grandfather—who originally made this section. He created it as a place for his inventions, ideas that never came to fruition because he got too caught up in enjoying family time and dealing with the early days of the Dust Schnee Company. This was his private project, a sanctuary for his unfinished dreams."Rinko's gaze drifted over the space, his mind piecing together the history Selene had just revealed. 'His grandfather,' Kakashi thought, a mixture of admiration and curiosity filling his chest. "So, it was my grandfather who made this place possible," he mused quietly.Selene gave a short nod, pushing open the trapdoor. "Yes, sir. He believed in preserving the past, even if it didn't always align with the present. Some say he wanted to create something revolutionary... but life had other plans. It's not a place people visit often."As she stepped aside to let Rinko pass, she gestured toward the stairs leading down.The air had a faint, musty scent, a mixture of dust and forgotten history.The stairs descended into shadow, their steps creaking underfoot. A few unlit bulbs hanging from the ceiling cast eerie, low light that did little to brighten the path ahead. Rinko pulled out his scroll for the flashlight for further visibility. He could see the first camera within, it had lights that indicated that it was recording.Rinko stepped forward, his thoughts swirling. His grandfather had been a visionary, but it seemed his dreams had been left to gather dust in a forgotten corner of the manor. What could possibly be hidden down there? And why had his father never mentioned this section in all the years he'd spent in the Manor?"Do you often come down here, Selene?" Rinko asked, glancing at her.Selene, following closely behind, shook her head. "Not often, but it was Klein who introduced this place to me. It's a place few people know about, and fewer still have any reason to visit. It's mostly been left alone since your grandfather's time. But, there's always been something... strange about this section. It feels like something is waiting here like it hasn't been fully forgotten."Rinko's brow furrowed. "Waiting for what?"Selene hesitated. "I'm not sure. But there's something down here, something that doesn't feel right. It's why I've been hesitant to bring anyone else down. And when Klein's accident happened... I couldn't help but think of this place."A chill ran down Rinko's spine as they descended further into the Lower Section. The stone walls seemed to close in around them, and the air grew thick with a strange tension as if the very foundation of the Manor was holding its breath.As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the vast expanse of the lower storage room stretched out before them. Rows of dusty crates and rusted shelves filled with old, forgotten objects lined the walls. But something about the place felt off—like a story unfinished, waiting for its next chapter to be written.Rinko's gaze shifted across the room, his mind racing with possibilities. The mystery of Klein's accident, the sabotage in the camera footage, and now the eerie atmosphere of this hidden section—all of it seemed interconnected.Selene's voice broke through his thoughts. "There's one room in particular down here... It's locked. No one has entered it in years. But I've always wondered what's inside."Rinko's eyes narrowed. "We'll find out."As they ventured deeper into the Lower Section, the air grew colder, and the silence seemed to weigh heavily on them. Each step felt heavier like the manor itself was closing in around them, keeping its secrets hidden in the shadows. Rinko's mind raced, filled with questions that became harder to ignore the further they went. 'Why had his grandfather kept this place a secret? What could possibly be so important—or dangerous—that it had been sealed away for so long?'They reached a narrow corridor at the end of the Lower Section, a faint glow from an old, flickering light casting long, distorted shadows on the walls. Rinko and Selene stopped just outside the locked room. The door, worn and covered in years of dust, seemed to exude an unsettling stillness.Selene spoke softly, her voice barely audible in the quiet, "This is it, Master Rinko."Rinko stood still for a moment, his gaze lingering on the door. He could feel the weight of the hidden history pressing down on him. Every instinct told him that what lay beyond the door was crucial to understanding the mysteries surrounding the manor, the strange events with Klein, and the growing sense of danger that was following him at every turn.With a sharp breath, Rinko stepped forward, a surge of determination coursing through him. "Hn... I got this."Selene took a step back, allowing him the space he needed. Rinko raised his hand, focusing his energy as he summoned his glyphs. The delicate symbols of power appeared in the air, swirling with precision and speed. The glyphs danced around the lock, and with a soft hum, they clicked open. Rinko turned the knob, and the door creaked as it slowly swung inward.The moment the door opened, the stale air of the locked room rushed out to meet them, carrying with it the scent of rust, age, and disuse. Rinko squinted into the dim light that filtered into the room, his eyes adjusting to the eerie scene before him.There, in the center of the room, stood several robots—old, dusty, and completely still. The metal surfaces were coated in a thick layer of grime and rust, their once-shiny exteriors now dulled and cracked. Some of the robots were humanoid in design, others were more mechanical, with arms and legs designed for heavy lifting or intricate work.All of them seemed frozen in time, abandoned in a forgotten corner of the manor.Rinko's heart skipped a beat as he stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the robotic figures. "What is this...?" His voice was a mix of awe and unease.Selene followed closely behind, her eyes widening in disbelief. "These... these are your grandfather's creations. I've heard stories, but I never imagined anything like this. He was working on these? Why would he leave them down here, in secret?"Rinko's gaze lingered on the robots, his mind racing. "These aren't just any robots. These are prototypes—unfinished projects. He must have been testing something... something far beyond the typical use of automation and labor. What were you trying to do, Grandpa?"As Rinko approached one of the robots, he reached out and ran his fingers lightly over the surface. It was cold and rough to the touch, the metal tarnished with age. The robot's design was intricate, far more complex than any of the typical machines in use in Atlas. Some were clearly designed for specific tasks, while others seemed more... experimental."What happened to them?" Selene asked, her voice low. "Why were they abandoned like this?"Rinko turned away from the robot he had been inspecting, his mind still working through the pieces of the puzzle. "My grandfather was an inventor, that is what you said. He must've been obsessed with pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved with Dust and technology. These..." He paused, eyes narrowing as a chilling thought crossed his mind, "these were likely meant for something more dangerous. Something that involved far more than just convenience."There was a haunting silence between them as Rinko continued to examine the robots. Some had humanoid features, almost lifelike, while others were mechanical behemoths, built for heavy combat or labor. It was clear that they were never meant to be public knowledge, never meant to be seen by anyone else.Suddenly, a soft creaking noise echoed through the room. The footsteps were light at first, then grew more distinct, heavy, and purposeful. Both Rinko and Selene stiffened, their senses immediately alert.Their eyes snapped toward the entrance of the room, just outside of the door, and there, emerging from the shadows stood a figure. It was a robot—though not one of the rusty, motionless prototypes scattered across the floor. This one was different. Its body was sleek and metallic, its movements unnervingly precise. What set it apart were the glowing yellow eyes embedded into its faceplate. The eyes flickered as if they were processing the newcomers, as if curious about their presence.Rinko's heart skipped a beat as the robot's head slowly turned in their direction.There was something almost sentient in the way it observed them, as though it wasn't just a machine, but something with purpose. Something that was aware of its surroundings.Without a word, Rinko instinctively stepped in front of Selene, his body tensing. His glyphs began to pulse subtly, ready to react to any hostile move.Selene's hand drifted behind her as the hilt of her umbrella, eyes narrowed. She knew this place was full of surprises, but this was beyond anything she had anticipated. "What is that...?" she muttered under her breath, her voice low and steady, though the unease was evident in her posture.Rinko didn't answer immediately. His gaze never left the robot, watching it with a mix of caution and intrigue. The robot seemed to be studying them—its posture was stiff, but its movements were calculating like it was processing their every move. A quiet hum emanated from the robot's frame as it shifted, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto Rinko with mechanical precision."Stay alert," Rinko warned, his voice steady but charged with intensity.Before they could react further, the robot surged forward with shocking speed, closing the distance in an instant. Its metal feet clanged loudly against the floor, echoing through the forgotten chamber.With a sharp, calculated motion, the robot launched a powerful punch at Rinko, its mechanical arm hissing from the force of its movement. Rinko instinctively raised his arm, summoning a defensive glyph that absorbed the impact, sparks flying from the collision.The force of the blow sent a harsh vibration through Rinko's arm, but he didn't flinch. With fluid precision, he retaliated, driving his fist toward the robot's torso. The machine twisted with inhuman agility, raising its free arm to block his strike with a resounding clang of metal on the aura-charged force.Seeing the opening, Selene moved with practiced grace, circling behind the robot with her parasol drawn. With a powerful swing, she aimed for the back of its head, intending to disable it—or at least disrupt its sensors.But the robot's sensors were far from outdated. It twisted its upper body at an impossible angle, raising its other arm just in time to intercept Selene's blow. The clash echoed through the room like a metallic drumbeat.Selene's eyes narrowed as she applied more force, attempting to break through its guard. The robot's glowing eyes flickered rapidly, as though calculating its next move.Rinko shifted his stance, tightening his fists, ready to unleash another glyph-based strike. "Selene, back off when I give the signal," he commanded, voice sharp with authority.Selene didn't question him. She met his gaze for a split second, understanding his intent without words.The robot's grip tightened around Selene's parasol, its servos whirring with mechanical force as it prepared to overpower her. Realizing the danger, Selene released the weapon and leaped back with fluid precision, her expression unreadable as she distanced herself."Now!" Rinko commanded, activating a glowing glyph beneath the robot's feet. A crackling surge of electric energy erupted from the glyph, enveloping the robot in an intense current.Sparks burst from its metal frame as electricity surged through its circuits, causing its body to convulse violently. Its glowing yellow eyes flickered and dimmed, struggling against the disruption in its system.But something unexpected happened—Selene gasped sharply, her entire body jerking ever so slightly as if the same current had hit her. For a fleeting moment, her eyes widened in shock as a searing pain spread through her veins like wildfire.She clenched her jaw, forcing her expression back into neutrality as she steadied her breath, hoping Rinko hadn't noticed.He hadn't. Rinko was too focused on maintaining the glyph's power, his sharp gaze locked on the robot as it shuddered and collapsed onto its knees, its metal joints groaning in protest.The room fell silent except for the faint crackle of dissipating electricity. Rinko finally lowered his hand, letting the energy fade. He cautiously approached the now-disabled robot, examining it for signs of further activity.Selene slowly retrieved her parasol from the ground, masking her still-throbbing hand beneath its smooth handle. She exhaled carefully, keeping her face calm and composed."That... should've done it," Rinko muttered, narrowing his eyes at the motionless machine. "It's completely fried."Selene nodded, her voice steady despite the lingering ache in her limbs. "You acted fast... impressive as always, Master Rinko."Before Rinko could respond, his scroll buzzed loudly, cutting through the heavy silence of the Lower Section. He fished it out of his coat pocket, answering it with a practiced calm."Rinko here.""Uh, hey, Master Rinko... it's Arthur," came the slightly panicked voice from the other end. "I've got something weird to report. The camera feed covering the entrance to the locked room—well, it cut to black again... same as before... and now it just came back online. Did something happen down there?"Rinko's eyes flicked toward the disabled robot sprawled on the cold, dusty floor, still smoldering faintly from the electrical surge. His expression hardened."Arthur... We might've just found the cause of the interference." His tone was sharp, edged with suspicion. "It was a robot."[End]