Chapter 354: Assisting the Transformation
Eldritch Realm. Former Federal Sector. Seventh Architectural Firm.
Leo was currently slumped across his desk, attempting a high-speed recovery
cycle.
He had spent the entire previous dark-cycle drafting blueprints; his ocular
sensors were nearing total failure. Since the Evernight Empire assumed
management of the Federation, the volume of infrastructure projects had scaled
by a factor of ten. Architects like him, requisitioned by the State Army, spent
their cycles in a loop of drafting, auditing, and re-drafting.
The only saving variable was the compensation.
The wage-tier was triple what he had earned during the Federal Era. Sustenance
was provided at a 100% subsidy. He resided in a newly constructed Imperial
apartment—thermally regulated, with 24-hour hot water availability.
In the old world, Leo wouldn't have dared to include such luxury in his
projections. Back then, the primary daily concern was avoiding liquidation by an
Anomaly. Now, his most taxing variable was deciding which dish to select at the
canteen.
"Engineer Leo! Leo! Reboot your system!"
Someone was tapping his shoulder with rhythmic insistence. Leo offered a muffled
groan, refusing to open his eyes.
"A major variable has manifested!"
Leo managed to tilt his head up, his eyelids still fighting a losing battle with
gravity. Standing over him was his colleague Milo—a lanky unit with hair like a
scorched bird's nest and spectacles so thick they looked like reinforced glass.
"Identify the anomaly..."
"A Vampire has manifested in the lobby. He is seeking the Director."
"Vampires seeking the Director is a common occurrence," Leo muttered, his logic
sluggish. "State Army units coordinate with us for site-surveys constantly—"
"This unit is different!" Milo's volume spiked. "He is wearing the dark crimson
trench coat. He has the Skull Medallion on his chest!"
Leo's lethargy evaporated by fifty percent.
The Skull Medallion. In the Imperial hierarchy, that designated a Centurion.
A State Army Centurion possessed administrative authority roughly equivalent to
a Bureau Chief in the old Federation. An official of that tier didn't manifest
at a minor provincial firm for a routine survey.
"Move out," Leo said, slapping his face to clear the fog. "Let's conduct a
visual audit."
They marched into the corridor, joining a huddle of other architects peeking
through the gaps in the office doors. The door to Director Miller's office was
ajar, vocal data drifting into the hallway.
Leo squeezed to the front, performing a quick scan of the room.
Director Miller was seated behind his desk, his complexion a map of conflicting
emotions—somewhere between "Profound Joy" and "Terminal Anxiety."
Seated opposite him was a young Vampire. His skin was the color of bleached
bone, his features possessing a refined aesthetic that felt statistically
impossible for a human. He looked remarkably relaxed, leaning back with one leg
crossed, holding a cup of tea.
He hadn't consumed a single drop. He was simply utilizing it as a social prop.
Vampires didn't process tea. The Director had provided it purely out of human
biological instinct.
"...So, that is the tactical situation," the Vampire stated, sliding the cup
across the desk.
"The High Command intends to requisition a cohort of experienced architects from
this firm. You are to transit to the Imperial Mainland to assist with the Iron
Fortress Urban Reset."
Miller's fingers drummed a frantic beat on the wood. "To the Imperial Mainland?"
"Affirmative."
"We... transit to another world?"
"Correct."
In the hallway, the eavesdropping architects exchanged stunned glances. Leo's
brain experienced a momentary system-lag.
The Imperial Mainland. Another Plane.
He had existed in the Eldritch Realm for twenty-eight years. He had never even
crossed the provincial borders of the old Federation. His furthest "Expedition"
had been a six-hour transport ride to a satellite city for a building audit—he
had complained about leg-cramps for two days afterward.
And now, he was being told to cross the Void?
"Director Miller, I am aware your processors require time to stabilize," the
Vampire said. His tone was polite, yet it carried an underlying frequency that
brooked zero argument. "However, the schedule is tight. The High Command expects
the first bracket of personnel on-site within seventy-two hours."
"Three cycles?!"
"The Imperial Infrastructure Command has finalized the Grand Design," the
Centurion explained. "Currently, the bottleneck is a lack of personnel
proficient in modern structural logic and high-density engineering. Your firm's
performance during the local reconstruction was logged as 'Superior.' You were
specifically localized for this mission."
Miller swallowed hard, his Adam's apple performing a nervous bob. "Query...
regarding the compensation-package?"
The Vampire smirked. "Standard Imperial Wage-Tier. It is significantly higher
than your current local rate. Exact digits will be issued by the Infrastructure
Command upon arrival. Room and board are fully subsidized. An additional
'Cross-Planar Work Bonus' will be applied to your account."
Miller remained silent, the logic of the offer overwriting his fear.
The Centurion stood, smoothing the creases of his uniform. "In three cycles, an
Arcane Legion unit will manifest to retrieve you. You will transit to the
Evernight Transit Hub for processing, then utilize the Planar Array to reach the
Empire."
"All selected units: prepare your personal inventory."
He reached the door, paused, and looked back over his shoulder.
"Oh, a minor logistical note: Do not bring bedding. The Empire provides
high-tier amenities."
With that, he pushed through the door and vanished into the night.
☆☆☆
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