Chapter 7: Not-So-Secret-Agent

The opportunity to travel freely did not come until a month later.

After working within the institute for nearly half a month, Aleph had an "on-site" inspection of several frontline branches against honkai. 

One of them was "Sapphire City". The surrounding towns around it suffered from small-scale honkai eruptions which made it an opportunity for him to see honkai beasts and survey the needed 'equipment' by the frontline soldiers.

After all, only by hearing the demands of the 'soldiers' themselves would they be able to optimize some hidden functions that disrupt their efficiency.

He currently has several bodyguards as his escort. Unfortunately for Aleph, this was mandatory for valuable personnel such as him.

"We will stay in a nearby room. We will guarantee your safety, Dr. Ainsworth."

"Thanks. You should have some rest too." Aleph said. "I will be collecting some data tomorrow."

"Understood."

Facing such a 'lenient' superior, the bodyguards inwardly made a thumbs up to him.

When they were gone, Aleph sighed.

"I could already feel Dr. Einstein's scolding, but it is what it is."

Once he entered his booked room, Aleph placed the silver briefcase on the tabletop. When he opened it, some of his personal belongings were present. These included the tablet and one other backup that he prepared. It included his clothes, wallet, some identification, and other miscellaneous items.

"Aside from bodyguards, there's that someone…"

As an assistant director, Aleph was made aware that there was an organization within Fire MOTH that carried some "shady tasks". Einstein directly told these things to him.

One of them was assigned to him as a 'hidden surveillance'.

In the end, the conclusion that he came to was:

"I won't find anything if I don't screw around."

After settling his personal belongings, he took out the 'blanket' that turned transparent the next second. Its pure black color fitted well with his white polo.

"My insight bode me well…"

Aleph opened the window and saw the ground from the second floor. The hotel room that he booked was on that floor, hence he didn't need much except the 'concealment blanket' as well as a pair of synthetic fiber ropes.

He put on the blanket to cover his entire body before descending using the rope.

"Why am I this accustomed to it? Did I do some shady things before?"

Aleph muttered as he found his body adapting to the 'rappelling state'. It didn't take long before he managed to touch the ground. He didn't even need gloves as his hands became strengthened under his APS (Active Power State).

"Let's test how far you could go, unknown bodyguard…"

*****

"Hm?"

As expected by Aleph, there really was a hidden surveillance assigned to him. They wouldn't be mobilized much when the target was simply an official or a soldier, but high-ranking institute personnel are highly-valued.

There were several hidden unaffiliated organizations to Fire MOTH. They have been the Fire MOTH's shadow soldiers since day one. They were, in fact, responsible for handling dirty and complex stuff that wouldn't do well for the organization.

At present, one such personnel was sent to 'protect' the newly-inducted assistant director of the Third Research Institute.

"What is he planning to do?"

Her dark-purple irises narrowed as she tried to 'track' the movements of her surveillance target. She was currently on the rooftop within the hotel's vicinity. The window where Aleph got out was the only other possible entry point for intruders, hence she chose this position.

Although his 'concealment cloak' could deceive most people, Aleph was unfortunate to meet this girl, who, with her unaugmented body, was able to reach the peak of human strength.

The agent, Sakura, kept close watch at his window, thus she was able to see it open from the get-go.

Without any hesitation, she jumped straight from the building three storeys tall and managed to land on the ground. Several biological improvements pushed her strength to humanity's limits.

Crack-!

Bam-!

"...They are keen to see some dirt on him. Was it related to the new Fourth Institute Director who rose up..?"

Based on what Sakura had read, Dr. Ainsworth was greatly acquainted with Dr. Mei. Some people got caught into trouble by the latter, thus wanting to find some holes through their force.

"If that's the case..."

At the thought of them being reduced into certain influential figures' private army, she could only remain silent. Her method of induction itself was far from pleasant—with her little sister being held hostage. She doesn't care about that organization; only her sister.

'Will things even change one day?'

Those thoughts were halted as she watched Aleph from the distance. The latter wasn't doing anything strange, only exploring Sapphire City normally as a tourist would. He went on and tried some street snacks and interacted with its locals. 

It was as if his escape entailed some time 'off work'.

Everything remained as usual… or at least it was shown on the surface. A depressive air surrounded Sapphire city. As it was within the proximity of Nagazora, it was affected by the aftereffects of Herscherr's descent. It was not the sole place, however, as the entire Far East was affected by the surge of Honkai energy within that place.

At this point, Fire MOTH could barely keep their information blockage after declaring Martial Law to all the cities within the Far East.

At the current stages, they viewed the Honkai as a threat that they could still settle in secret. There won't be any chaos, mass paranoia, and the likes with this move, or so they believe.

The current humanity believes that the Honkai was just like that. The higher-ups of the Fire MOTH viewed their competitors as a bigger threat than it.

This stagnant and complacent attitude would continue…

"He's gone?!"

…without an agent of change.

Four seconds after Aleph's disappearance from Sakura's sight, somebody tapped the latter's shoulder.

What greeted her was the face of a man in black cloak.

"Can we have a talk?"

"You…"

It was only at this moment did she realize that this man's goal was to fish her out.

*****

Aleph was not dumb.

He knew that sneaking into places with honkai beasts or any kind of battlefield was straight-up impossible under his current conditions.

The one that prevented it the most was none other than the 'hidden surveillance' from Fire MOTH's so-called "elite force".

As long as that condition was resolved, that impossibility might become fully possible.

It also remains to be unclear on whether the Far East was truly safe after the Third Eruption or not. He wouldn't simply gamble with his life, thus he chose to settle things step-by-step.

"You wanted to have a talk. What do you want?"

"...I knew it. You are not from an "elite force" alone. Was it an unlisted soldier? A secret agent, perhaps?"

"..."

Just from her manner of speaking, Aleph immediately deduced that information. He managed to fish out new knowledge from Sakura's subtle acts.

"Look, I won't be surprised if there are really spies and secret agents within Fire MOTH. Though, aren't you supposed to wear some type of black suit or something?"

Aleph looked at the girl who has a type of "fashion sense". She wore a one-thirds atop her white t-shirt as well as a pair of black leggings that emphasized its slenderness.

Top it off with a mini short, that was something Aleph didn't expect from the usual 'black suits'.

"Haven't you thought that spies would blend in too?"

"Fair point…"

Sakura expected him to be the 'cunning' man that wanted something from her, but she didn't think that their conversation would become silly…

"Well, with your organization being kept a secret, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that it is shady, no?"

…or not.