Garfield activated his watch, pulling up a holographic display. He then explained the details of his mission.
"My mission, as you guys can clearly see, is to ensure that Kael Everwyn has no obstruction while he goes about exploring the manor."
Clara Hightower raised an eyebrow.
"This idiot?" she said, pointing at Kael. "Why would he—why—"
Before she could continue, Amara interrupted.
"Miss Hightower, don't you think you're forgetting something?"
"Oh, right," Clara replied.
She removed the earring from her ear with a light motion and manipulated it with her aura. As she did, the earring emitted a faint red glow through her device.
"A bent red recording pin," Amara commented. "Quite the sneaky fellow, isn't he?"
"He's a bright student," Clara replied.
With a snap of her fingers, the earring—previously smeared with Ethan Cardwell's blood—disintegrated into ash.
She twisted her fingers and gathered the dust, then gestured toward the window. The ashes were thrown out through the window into the garden beyond.
As the ash scattered outside, Clara's aura released briefly. A high-level surveillance drone immediately flew in, collecting the particles before they touched the ground and disposing of them in a designated waste unit.
"Quite diligent," Amara said with faint amusement.
"That's besides the point," Clara replied, closing the window with her aura before retracting it.
"Now we don't have a voice barrier system," Nathaniel added. "And I'm not planning to assist in this matter. Are you, Miss Amara Veyra?"
"No, thank you," Amara replied.
"If you're going to make a mess like this, you might as well finish it properly." Amara directed her words towards Clara Hightower.
Clara released her aura in resignation, enveloping the room. The interference level rose significantly, surpassing even the earlier device-based suppression.
"Your control over aura seems to have strengthened," Nathaniel observed.
"Why, thank you," Clara replied sarcastically.
Nathaniel smiled lightly in response before turning back to the serious topic.
"Garfield Everworth, you need to explain yourself. What did you mean by helping him move around unimpeded?"
Garfield immediately retrieved a file through his system.
"This is classified information assigned to me by the government. It is not exactly secret, but it is extremely difficult to access without distortion from the Piao family."
He projected an image of the Piao family headquarters.
The first image showed a large mansion-like structure surrounded by trees, elegant and residential in appearance.
"This," Garfield said, pointing, "is what the Piao family home used to look like. Not what it is now."
He switched to a second image showing the current headquarters.
The difference was stark. The structure had become massive and fortress-like, surrounded by four barracks.
Clara frowned.
"They just expanded it," she said. "Isn't that normal?"
"No," Garfield said firmly. "That is not the case."
He continued.
"This change occurred within the last five to seven years. The government originally had only limited visual records because the Piao estate was off-limits. They only managed to obtain partial layout data through infiltration."
Amara narrowed her eyes.
"What changed?"
Garfield hesitated.
"The government suspects something is being hidden by the Piao family," he said. "Something significant enough that even mentioning it leads to consequences."
He paused.
"People who attempt to disclose it suffer severe outcomes. Some experience mental collapse before they can even finish explaining."
Clara frowned.
"What does this have to do with anything?"
Garfield continued.
"During years of infiltration and surveillance, the government identified restricted zones within the headquarters. Some systems appear to require blood-based authorization, bypassing standard credentials."
Nathaniel Crow interjected.
"So, what happened to those who encoded or leaked this information?"
Garfield shook his head slightly.
Everyone in the room understood the answer without it needing to be spoken.
"So," Nathaniel concluded, "we are using him as a key to access areas we cannot normally enter due to bloodline restrictions. Correct?"
"Correct," Garfield confirmed.
"That is precisely why my mission is to ensure Kael Everwyn can move freely within the headquarters."
Kael Everwyn sat quietly, listening. He was not actively involved in the conversation, though he occasionally glanced around absent-mindedly.
At one point, Kael's gaze drifted toward Amara Veyra, who clearly did not appreciate being stared at.
After receiving the necessary information, Amara stood.
"That will be enough," she said.
She walked over to Kael and pinched both his cheeks, forcing him to look up.
"Do you think this is amusing, Mr. Kael Everwyn?"
"What?" Kael replied.
"You should not stare at people of higher standing," she said. "That training clearly went in one ear and out the other."
"No, Miss Everwyn," Kael replied quietly.
"Good," she said.
She released him and wiped her hand with a tissue from the table, discarding it immediately.
"Make sure you complete your mission properly," she said.
"If there is nothing else Mr. Garfield, then I will be going."
"No," Garfield replied.
"Oh, by the way," Before she left, Amara added, "The government has become a little too casual in its approach toward us. Tell them to be more careful. If they intend to make fools of us in front of the Piao family—or even the world—they should be prepared."
Her tone sharpened slightly.
"At any moment, we can become enemies." Without waiting for a response, she left the room.
Clara watched her go, then she turned towards Garfield.
"Amara is right," she said. "The government's 'games' are not serious in the slightest. If things shift, they should know that we are still fully capable of turning against them. Tell them that they should be a bit more cautious."
She continued.
"Especially that—"
She stopped herself.
"Never mind."
She also left the room but her aura was still active.
Nathaniel Crow looked at Kael Everwyn, then at Garfield.
"Come with me," he said to Garfield. "We need to refine this plan further."
"Although," Nathaniel Crow added calmly, "I have not asked for your mission yet, Mr. Everworth, but based on what was discussed, it seems aligned with the usual directive."
He showed an elderly smile towards Kael.
"I wish you survival within the Piao headquarters."
Nathaniel Crow gestured toward the table which had snacks and sweets laid out neatly.
"Eat something." Mr. Crow looked that the boy's sallow complexion for a brief moment.
"Group matters will continue without you going forward," Nathaniel said, before turning his attention towards Mr. Garfield. "Let's go."
Garfield followed silently, deactivating his watch interface.
The room fell quiet, and Ms. Hightower's aura also disappeared quietly.
After a while—
A faint tapping sound started to echo around in the silence.