271. Inflow Direct’s Inner Circle

The Nest spanned across all three Sectors within the inner walls of the City of Clubs. A highly sophisticated urban network sprawled like industrial pipework. Bands of colored buildings ran like organized cable work, each containing glass tubes that funneled liquid at extreme pressures.

Steam cascaded from below, rising and collecting beneath iron pipes. The condensate dripped, watering indoor garden complexes. All manners of messages, items and liquids were delivered around the Nest via pressurized tubes. These tubes also ran along each Sector of the outskirts, used to send, and receive items, payments, and all other forms of inquiry.

It was an ancient and outdated system, replaced by the instantaneous mode of Justica Arm’s Warped Stone. But it was revived only after the destruction of the Hyperlinks and Relay Sites. Usually, Guilds served as post offices. Until the systems came back, Inflow Direct was once again under complete control over public parcel logistics, at least within the City of Clubs.

In each three of the major Sectors, J, Q and K, were towers made from dull, thick slabs of steel. Each was reinforced by several more layers of steel, the outermost coating being pale. A blue liquid was funneled straight into these towers to be distilled and extracted at varying levels.

They were undoubtably fractional distillation towers. They were found in the more industrialized areas of the Nest, away from the masses. Explosions caused by these towers were akin to a short burst of Serum S, meaning nothing would remain other than a steaming crater.

The blue liquid was not Nex. In fact, it was liquid mana. Or was it? The distillation process created the ‘base’ for mana potions and Elixirs. Serums and Infusions came from a more purified form of mana, as well as liquid Nex. The color scheme of Liquid Nex and Mana was intentional to make it difficult for outsiders to differentiate the two in the event of an attack. In fact, many of their liquid brews were blue.

Towards the center of the Nest resided a cluster of giant egg-shaped structures. In the middle was one grand spire that oversaw the entirety of the City of Spades, built similarly to Carpal Tower.

This tower was called the Asclepein, or the Healing Needle. Within resided the only known male healer, Ocrates; the Father of healing, and the Mothers; the highest ranking of all healers. It was impenetrable. Only these healers along with the Perched, were allowed to enter.

That being said:

If one looked closely, one would find that the eggs were floating in a pale liquid. Also, spaciously littering the clearing were circular hatches, each labeled after the organs and limbs of a healthy humanoid specimen.

The public could not venture within the eggs, aside from healers. They were given free reign into this architectural marvel so long as they underwent a brief examination. To ensure that they were indeed healers, and not imposters.

Signalius and Lievar were allowed in with a small hiccup, requiring blood to be drawn. A coil heated until orange was then dipped into their blood. Lievar, even as one of the major figure heads, was required to undergo this examination as well as several questions.

Signalius was cleared for entry ahead of time. All they needed was confirmation that he was not Mimicry. Because of Mimicry’s elevation from a mere rumor into a Nightmare, this method of testing became prevalent throughout Inflow Direct.

The theory behind it was that the blood of Mimicry would attempt to defend itself against harmful stimuli, according to a recent development in the City of Hearts.

A tiny healer offered an arm for blood to be drawn. The girl winced, and the Liquidators mothered her. Even as partial machines, their cold hearts were broken by the sight of a pained healer, and more often than not they’d be embraced.

Each healer knew these guarding Liquidators by name, and it made their bonds all the more powerful. Before the healer could be allowed entry, they first needed to confirm that her physical assessments perfectly matched her existing records.

Of course, this was done by another healer. An embellished woman in pale robes arrived from one of the chambers to the side of the entrance, approaching the girl with a motherly smile.

White ribbons draped from their shoulders and forearms. A radiance of excellency shone from their permanent smile. Their eyes were droopy, as if tired and they were sluggish, moving like a plant in the wind. When a gust flew by, she nearly lost her footing, but thankfully the ribbons immediately solidified, anchoring her in place like crutches.

“Oh dove~ Walking’s become quite challenging, hmm~” She hummed, walking with her bare feet which were cleansed with magic after each step. With open arms, her robes spread like the wings of a dove, and she smothered the girl. “It’s ok, little one. You’re protected here. Let this elder healer take good care of you.”

Because they were Blessed, identification was impossible without the Guild Cards. And even with them people were crafty enough to alter their appearance. Of all the Ateliers, they were perhaps the easiest to infiltrate.

As evident by how they lost an Infusion of all things.

* * *

Within one of the eggs was a chamber reserved for the 5 major Donors to discuss the affairs of the Atelier. Exactly 104 tubes filled with a colored liquid decorated its walls. They acted as visual gauges to measure how much of a given liquid they had remaining. Cozied within this place, and seated on the corners of a grand, glass round table were the 5 Donors of Inflow Direct. Or more specifically, for Beholder E.

They were the ones who ran Inflow Direct just underneath Beholder E. With him gone, all tasks were delegated and split between them. Inflow Direct could not survive without one of them.

Normally, they’d take refuge permanently either underground or within the Asclepein. But due to the nature of Act X’s message, they considered hosting this gathering of some of the brightest minds currently in the Nex Megalopolis.

Indeed. It was not just them who were present.

Other unfamiliar faces occupied the empty seats, cramming it until there were but only two seats remaining, reserved for the White Wing, and an undisclosed second guest.

Hearth: An ill, young, blonde woman who had a metal sphere attached to where her heart should be. She sat diligently at the table, giddily gazing at the others present, unable to hide her excitement as she clutched at her chest in slight pain.

“He he… She’s coming~ She’s really coming back~” She panted, sweating profusely.

She was the Heart of Beholder E.

“Is she going to be fine?” Signalius questioned, to which an old man waved his worries aside with a hand.

Khidniece: An incredibly old man who had a bizarre contraption made of steel attached to his lower back made his presence known with a quiet whistle, blowing aside his aged hair.

“That artificial heart won’t let her die. But it is quite painful I’m afraid.” The old man answered.

This man was the Kidneys of Beholder E.

“You know. That reminds me!” A young boy exclaimed, unable to speak more than a few sentences. “Where *Gasp* is Carpalis! You’re from *Gasp* the Golden Thumb, right? A Captain!” The young boy wore a backpack that supplied him with air.

He was an Aquatid, so it seemed to make perfect sense. But dissect and one would find that he was missing both lungs.

He was the Lungs of Beholder E, named Pewnomerry.

The woman he addressed was a familiar face to many. An egregiously tall woman wearing a green suit, with blonde, unkempt hair and a face that seemed disinterested with the whole ordeal.

This woman was L.S.

“Hahaha… But the message said she should stick around. Otherwise, how am I suppose to relay information back?” She shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Out of everyone present, she was by far the most out of place. Her position in the hierarchy of ranks was considerably lower compared to theirs. Captains of the Golden Index were managed by Manager Captains, Counsellors, then one of the 4 Heads of the Golden Index, the Underbosses, and finally, Beholder Carpalis herself.

Signalius was an Operational Conductor; one of only 50. His role was no more than to oversee and conduct operations, whether it be with a crew of two, or with thousands. It went without saying that his mind, body, and heart were tempered by years of experience on the battlefield and in a more technical line of work.

He had what one would call an engineer’s eye. It was why he was so fascinated by Inflow Direct. But this was not the main topic at hand.

“… that is… a fair… point…” A hollow, robotic voice spoke from a person whose head was replaced by a bowl of pink fluids. Bubbles rose whenever he spoke, and the fluids drained whenever he attempted a thought process. “Communication lines… between Carpalis… and her underlings… are untouched…”

They were ambiguous in gender, and they functioned as the Brain of Beholder E, named simply ‘Brain’.

“Um. Excuse me. Can we begin? Right now?” A short haired woman in a black suit waved, bearing a blue embroidered armband around her shoulder, indicating that she was a part of CogitO’s ranks. Where exactly was unknown, but it was clear that she held significant authority.

As polite as she was, her gaze oozed with a killer’s aura as she quietly tapped on the handle of a one-sided blade. Along its exposed edge was the etching of the name, ‘Orange Disruptor’.

“… that… would be wise… as it is… precisely time… as stated by the message…” The Brain stated, and they all began to throw their blue Scripts into the center one by one.

When the pile ceased forming, it became clear that Act X had personalized each message, drawing them in for a wide range of reasons. This alone would not have been enough to move these people. However, what did was the warning of the Scarlet Logic, and the mention of the return of the White Wing.

“Act X brought us here but they’re not here themselves. The audacity~ Still. I wonder what other scummy things are written in there. Handing this over to a certain Archetype miiiight go a little south.” L.S accidentally threatened, immediately sweating profusely the moment she realized what had left her lips. “A-ahaha. Hypothetically! Just letting you know that we have a new Color bouncing around. And an Archetype~”

“Bull. Shit. The only Archetypes we know of is the Librarian and the Arbiter.” The CogitO woman claimed.

Of 30 present, 20 agreed. The others shook their heads and were adamant that the Amalgam did exist and was the primary motivation for Iscario’s betrayal. The reason why the Amalgam was seldomly known was because there was an effort to keep them a secret. Furthermore, while there were efforts to spread the news along unaffected Hyperlink networks, it became clear that Brandar was not the only Region affected.

It was the entirety of Elysia.

Each person present arrived from branches of their Atelier from across all Elysia, using horseback carriages, giant dragonflies, trains and their two legs to arrive in the Nex Megalopolis.

And when the Mark of Judgement was brought up, their eyes immediately lit up.

“That still doesn’t prove anything.” One said.

“Hmmm~ Are you sure about that~? I’m not suggesting that I do know something. I am telling you that I know everything.”

L.S simply hummed in response, seemingly understanding why she was brought here in the first place.

It was because she knew of the truth. She knew the Amalgam better than most, and with communication lines open to Carpalis; the words she carried were bound to be the truth. However, it was a matter of whether or not they would accept it as such.

Realizing this, L.S quietly gloated to herself.

“Ahaha… I’m gonna have the last laugh after all. Please do take me seriously~ I must be here for a reason. Wait – wait –!”

Her chair screeched as she threw herself backwards, avoiding the tip of a blade which was shoved against her throat.

“hahaha… You’re not seriously considering cutting me up?”

“Say less, you disgusting bitch. How a monster like you even thinks it can sit here with us is beyond me. And to think you of all people carry the truth?” A different CogitO member was the culprit, and she squatted over the table, bleeding L.S who silently pleaded.

In that instant, a highly pressurized spray of acid dislodged the katana-wielding woman’s entire arm, melding it into one viscous goop. The young boy, Pewnomerry, left his seat and steadily approached the gasping woman, all the while a white siren flashed from above.

“Nggggghhhh… You’re a humanoid too. What’s the deal? Because of Act X you’re going to let one of those things into your Atelier?” She uttered, inching away from the rapidly spreading acid.

The boy blankly stared down at her, before he glanced at the other CogitO woman.

“Listen. We’re in someone else’s turf. When they say remove your shoes, you remove them. If you can’t act civilly, then I’ll personally add you to the next batch of Repenters. Or, do you prefer becoming a Condemned?” She warned, unsheathing her blade for a split second.

Then, she unceremoniously sheathed it.

In that moment, the disgruntled woman’s only arm was wrapped with a black chain. Then, in an instant, it shattered, and she lost her second arm.

“NGHHH! AAAAAGH!”

“Ah… ahaha…?”

“We didn’t get this far by trampling on the trust of our partners. To bare your hostility here is a declaration of war. Don’t ever forget that.” She hissed, before closing her eyes and lowering her forehead against the desk. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think we still had children. Lobotomizing her might be an alternative. Disgusting… for an Atelier that focuses on controlling one’s mind, I sincerely apologize on their behalf.”

The young boy and the Donors contemplated whether accepting this apology was enough. After receiving several nods, and L.S approval to let her live, the boy began to speak through a hidden communicative device.

“It’d be a shame to ruin our relationship over this. We rely on your technology, after all. Hrm. Transporters. 4 required. Conglomeration Room. One injured. Please take them to a healing class. We have a live specimen.”

With that being said, a pack of 4 mechanical beings burst through the door. They were fueled by colored liquid alone, and they carried a separate limb of the woman, hauling her as one screwed a massive screwhead into her missing stub to stop the bleeding.

The Transporters were significantly more powerful compared to most living beings. They possessed a liquified brain and operated similarly to how the Octanids did, meaning that their host was alive despite their red-slurry form.

When the silence returned, all eyes fell onto L.S as she received a small injection of Serum H from the young boy to heal her wounds. With all distractions aside, she cleared her throat and began to relay all she knew of the Amalgam.

And midway, the doors opened once again.

Standing there, with an aura that could only be described as holy, was a pale-haired Angel with three tails, and beside her was a dark-skinned woman dressed in the same blue robes of the Heralds and Missionaries.

Except that she was neither of them.

Standing beside an Angel was one of Act X’s highest ranks.

An Interpreter.