Stolen Cargo

I was going to leave after reading the relevant information but I then realized another entry. It spoke of a city, a city called Eden. So I sat back down and read all about it.

Eden was established soon after the surface showed signs of calming down by the subterranean government. The world was no longer razed by storms and apart from mutant creatures, things had gone back to relative safety.

They designed a military city. It had large concrete walls and the area was separated into many districts. The residential areas were separated by military ranking and it wasn't until years later that Eden started to represent a normal city.

Before that though, The city suffered attacks from many creatures. This included toxic centipedes, which are now no longer a real threat, and rabid packs of desert ravagers.

Based on the brief description provided, They are rat-like creatures that carry disease. They also tend to eat anything that grows in the desert be it plants or animals thus their name.

But, after prevailing many such attacks and with the children of soldiers having nowhere to go. Schools were made and the people there lived regular lives without turmoil.

There were already schools in the city of Termina. As a matter of fact, that all took place in this very library. It holds books of the times before the apocalypse as well as many new ones usually made by residents of Eden.

This library was quite important in the days where people used to be underground. Even now, this library is highly respected. Aristocratic children from Eden still go here to read up on any matters.

There are libraries in Eden as well but they don't hold the original books. They are usually copied making them lose their sense of novelty.

I checked my phone.

[11:35]

The library was basically desolate at this point so I placed the book back where it belonged, grabbed the lead box, and headed for the front door. It was time to head back.

The library's entrance had guards but they were all regular people or only in the first grade. I easily walked past them without any of them finding it strange. People exit through doors after all right?

I pushed it open and I was once again welcomed by the bleak and dark underground. There were also some more guards stationed here including the one that gave me directions last time.

I walked past all of them. I and the box had made it safely out of the library. Should I return again? I thought with a smug smile.

Needless to say, I was starting to take a liking to becoming invisible to others. It's funny, only now do I feel free and unmasked. A weird sense of arrogance…? Conceit..? Or was it just happiness? Had I ever felt any of these feelings?

To me they were a rarity, it was hard to sort them out because of this.

I shrugged off the pointless thoughts and started to consider what to do with the lead box. Burying it was the best bet but that was bound to attract some attention.

I'll just do it. Staying out in the open wasn't any good for me. Especially since I might be a wanted man.

I headed out towards the slum area. I was returning to Kaiser and his crew. Along the way, I stopped by an alley and hid the box in the ground.

I didn't have a shovel but as an exalted, I had no problems digging with my bare hands. It took a bit but the box was decently hidden. There was no rain to eventually expose the box but that also meant that the traces of digging might not disappear any time soon.

Well, I was also sure digging in the slums wasn't uncommon. While I doubt they kill each other on a daily basis I wouldn't be surprised to find a couple of old skeletons here and there.

I finally made it back to the building and knocked on the building's door. A minute later I could hear a voice.

"Who is it?" It asked warily.

"Dan. I bring good news." I immediately replied. This was a code that Seamus passed on to me.

"How good?" The man was waiting for the latter part of the sequence.

"Delicious" I told him before hearing the door unlock. He looked me up and down before letting me in.

The first floor of the building was a living quarter. The second was a kitchen and the rest were also living quarters. I went past all of these rooms until finally reaching the 9th-floor lounge. This was where most of the members that weren't on a mission gathered.

Seamus who had been actively awaiting my return instantly noticed me after I went up the stairs, it took him a second though.

"Dan, you finished the mission?" He approached and asked. Only now did the other members also become aware of my presence.

"Yes, is Kaiser here?" I asked directly, not wasting any time.

"Yeah, he is waiting for your results actually." Seamus replied matter of factly.

"Good, I'll check things with him first then" I told Seamus. There was no point in telling him that I didn't have the cargo. It was best to tell Kaiser directly to avoid any misunderstandings or misgivings.

I left the lounge and the stairs led me into the hallway. There were multiple doors but my target was the one at the end. I knocked politely a couple of times and then heard a voice.

"Come in" Kaiser yelled from where I presumed was his desk.

I opened the door and entered into the crowded office. The crates and stuff hadn't decreased since my last time here.

"Sit down" Kaiser gestured for me to sit in front of him.

I naturally obliged and sat down.

Kaiser laid back on his chair after placing his feet onto his desk. He seemed quite relaxed but I wasn't planning on being fooled. I'd be surprised if he didn't notice my increase in grades.

"Where's the cargo" He asked straightforwardly.

"I took it" I didn't waste any time to respond. I had thought of a couple of ways to twist my story around but I ultimately settled for the truth. If I wanted to make sure that Kaiser wouldn't kick me to the curb at first chance then I needed to earn his trust, not his sympathy.

"I hope you have a good explanation for me then" Kaiser said in return. His eyes were staring at me sharply. I was as if he was scanning my body for even the tiniest chance of a lie.

"I am not sure if you'll be convinced but I do" I started with this and began to recount my experience.