OCTOBER 2017
LAGUNA PROVINCE
PHILIPPINES
After an unsuccessful search of Arcane Laboratories and an inconclusive investigation into the kidnapping of Marie and Bryan, Keiro and Rinporter decided to spend one more month in San Pedro City before moving on to another location.
Throughout their two months of searching, they had not come across any vehicles suspected of containing abducted individuals. It was possible that the previous incident was simply a typical kidnapping case or that they had missed each other by chance. Both would only visit San Pedro City during their spare time, usually at day. So, this time, they decided to wait until the sunset. Unfortunately, they still hadn’t come across anything unusual.
As they waited for a few more hours, they noticed a subtle temperature change. The wind picked up slightly, and the air became warmer. Strangely, the birds began to act erratically, flying in different directions.
In response to this unexpected behavior, Rinporter swiftly activated his portal perception ability, closing his eyes to concentrate intensely. After a moment, he spoke, “I sense two individuals exiting a car. . . . From what I can imagine, it appears that they are retrieving something from the backseats. And now . . . they’re walking . . . stairs?” His brows furrowed as he processed the information. “Yes, they are heading up a set of stairs.”
As he opened his eyes, he wasted no time opening a portal. With a firm grip on Keiro’s arm, he pulled him through. In an instant, they were discreetly transported behind a tree, hidden from view in the open space surrounded by trees.
Peeking through their vantage point, both were taken aback by the sight before them. There, they saw a 7-seater car parked alongside an extraordinary private jet adorned with the name Skyswift. It boasted a sleek, polished silver hull, its wing design was elegantly swept-back, optimized for superior aerodynamics. Additionally, it featured large panoramic windows with a dark tint, adding to its mystique. Their attention then shifted to the two men who were carefully removing two children from the backseat of the car and carrying them toward the jet.
“How did we miss that thing?” Rinporter sighed, perplexed by the fact that such a sizable aircraft had gone unnoticed in the sky.
With clenched fists, Keiro responded, “I’m not sure. But based on what you said earlier, they must have already placed four children inside, and there are two more remaining. That’s a total of six children. Why are they specifically targeting children? What could their intentions be?”
“Yes, it’s deeply concerning. But does it make sense for them to transport the kidnapped children in such a conspicuous private jet?” Rinporter pondered aloud, his brows furrowing in confusion. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he noticed the wrists of the last two children. “Am I seeing things, or are both of those kids really wearing matching wide-band bracelets?”
Unlike the previous two children who were wearing long-sleeved uniforms, these two had short sleeves.
Keiro’s jaw clenched tightly as he observed the purple color of the bracelets. “Those are probably infused with Elthier. They are likely conjurers, just like Marie and Bryan. We need to find out what they plan to do with them. Let’s make our way inside.”
___________
A FEW DAYS LATER
MENYAMYA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
ARCANE LABORATORIES 02
With a carefully crafted plan, the Veilbreakers successfully infiltrated a facility that bore a striking resemblance to Arcane Laboratories 01, but with notable differences. This facility was considerably larger and was built above ground rather than underground.
Inside, disturbing experiments were being conducted on children. These innocent souls were being injected with Helthier, similar to what Dr. Johnson had done to Grovan. However, the children appeared to be in a state of tranquility, experiencing minimal to no discomfort. Upon witnessing this a few days ago, Keiro and Rinporter were initially perplexed by the compatible effects of the syrup with the genetic makeup of the children as conjurers. But they also found it somewhat absurd, considering that the main ingredient, Elthier, was known to be their weakness. Intrigued, they delved deeper into their investigation and made a surprising discovery. The substance being administered was an upgraded version of Helthier.
This second facility not only prioritized the production of Helthier but also housed a dedicated lab for creating another syrup derived from a different Arcanian plant called Therod. This translucent syrup with a blue hue was aptly named Unbotherod, and intriguingly, its pronunciation almost sounded like the word unbothered. When combined with Helthier, it would result in an enhanced version that eliminated any pain response when administered to individuals.
And this time, it was Cresson who stumbled upon yet another shocking revelation during his mission to survey the main lab and assess the placement of the seemingly invincible security cameras.
Unbotherod, the syrup, was being distributed to Papua New Guineans, especially those involved in gangs. This alarming development resulted in the country surpassing Ranace as the most dangerous place to live. The individuals who received this syrup appeared to be impervious to pain, much like Arcanians, even when faced with severe injuries. This unprecedented situation posed significant challenges to the safety and well-being of the population.
“I think Grovan was right all along,” Cresson muttered through his earpiece. He had been waiting patiently for the researchers to vacate the Unbotherod lab before speaking. “Rin, get me out of here. As anticipated, the security cameras are positioned all around.”
A portal materialized, and Cresson swiftly stepped through it, reemerging in the cubicle alongside Rinporter and Keiro. Fortunately, the area provided enough space for all three of them to gather. Meanwhile, Grovan remained in Ranace, serving as their point of contact in case of an emergency.
“What have you discovered?” Keiro whispered.
Cresson proceeded to explain the conversation he had overheard, revealing the truth about the distribution of Unbotherod. It was not only an experiment but also a means to encourage people to engage in criminal activities.
“They’re truly evil!” Rinporter exclaimed.
“Indeed,” Cresson agreed. “Arcane Lab Zero-One may have been destroyed for us, possibly by the Black Marzec. But now, we are here, and this is not Ranace. It falls upon us to dismantle this operation.”
“I can’t believe I dismissed Grovan’s idea back then as the least ideal. I feel ashamed for even saying that,” Rinporter admitted.
“We must put an end to their actions,” Keiro said. “If this continues unchecked, it will inevitably spread worldwide, and we cannot allow that to happen. We need to uncover the mastermind behind all of this.”
Rinporter nodded in agreement. “I’ll transport you back to our hideout, and then I’ll swiftly locate Dr. Johnson. We will proceed according to our planned strategy.”
After ten minutes, he successfully located Dr. Johnson and patiently waited for the opportune moment to act. As soon as she was alone, he summoned a portal, swiftly pulling her into it. They emerged in the safety of the hideout.