ELDAM CITY
ARCANE LABORATORIES
The Veilbreakers effortlessly infiltrated Arcane Laboratories with the help of Rinporter’s powers. They made their way from their hideout to the lab coat closet without encountering any trouble. They had already planned their operation before entering the facility, as they remained uncertain about the exact locations of the security cameras.
Rinporter skillfully conjured a miniature portal in the air, perfectly sized to accommodate his phone’s camera. This clever tactic allowed them to discreetly assess the situation on the other side of the portal and determine if Grovan was present. Fortunately, Rinporter’s previous familiarity with the facility enabled them to navigate through almost every room swiftly, leading them to Grovan in no time.
“What on earth are they doing to him?” he muttered in disbelief as they laid eyes on him, who was restrained on a steel platform, writhing in agony. Dr. Johnson administered a purple syrup into his arm, causing him to scream out in pain.
In a hushed tone, Cresson questioned, “She’s experimenting on him? I thought she had a crush on Grovan? So, why is she doing that?”
Keiro’s anger boiled over as he clenched his fists. “She will pay for this!”
“Let’s go there and save him.” Rinporter closed the portal and stashed his phone in his waist holster.
Everyone nodded in agreement and cautiously peered through the louvered doors of the closet to confirm that the area was clear before stepping out. Rinporter tried to use his powers to create a portal and enter the room where Grovan was, but to their disappointment, they ended up outside the intended location.
“It seems like using your powers to enter the room is not an option,” Cresson remarked. “Let’s hide before we’re discovered.”
With unanimous agreement, they retreated into the closet.
“How can we rescue him?” Rinporter inquired.
“We mustn’t make impulsive decisions, as that could lead to us being caught again. And if that happens, the situation will only worsen. We need to save Grovan without raising any suspicion,” Keiro advised.
Cresson nodded in agreement. “We need a plan to successfully execute our second attempt at rescuing him.”
After brainstorming, they came up with a new plan: to take pictures of Dr. Johnson’s research papers on the purple syrup and save Grovan next time. Fortunately, the main lab was vacant, and they skillfully maneuvered through it using Rinporter’s portal. Keiro used his phone’s camera to document the surroundings, while Cresson concentrated on capturing images of Dr. Johnson’s papers.
Meanwhile, Rinporter diligently examined the security camera locations based on the footage displayed on the monitor. After a few minutes, he discovered their positions, but the devices themselves remained a mystery as there was no visible evidence on the ceilings or walls.
“Do they have invisible cameras?” He scoffed at his thought. Suddenly, in one of the footages, he noticed someone about to enter the main lab. In response, he swiftly took a picture of the monitor as a reference. Then, the group promptly decided to retreat to their hideout.
___________
NORTH CALUM
VEILBREAKERS NEST
After carefully examining Dr. Johnson’s research papers, Cresson made an intriguing discovery. It seemed that the purple syrup known as Elthier, which the Veilbreakers were already aware of, had an additional purpose. This syrup, named Helthier by Dr. Johnson, was specifically formulated to extend an Arcanian’s stay on Earth for up to ten years, as long as they consumed it regularly. Without it, they could only survive for a period of two to three years.
“The President’s conversation with Dr. Johnson finally pieces everything together,” Keiro remarked, his brows furrowed in understanding. “The VVIPs must refer to those wealthy Arcanians who are willing to pay a hefty price for the Helthier.”
Cresson nodded in agreement. “That’s correct. And those who cannot afford it may resort to taking drastic measures, such as killing a human when their time is up.”
Rinporter sighed in frustration. “Unbelievable! I just realized that might be the reason why our country also has the highest number of missing persons cases. Why can’t they simply return to their planet?”
Suddenly, silence fell, and with a collective sigh and serious expressions, the group’s attention turned to the topic of Grovan.
“Let’s stay focused on what needs to be done. Saving Grovan is our top priority,” Keiro stated, leaning forward with his hands clasped on the table. “Does anyone have any ideas?”
“We’ve already tried everything we could think of, but as long as Grovan remains in a room with Elthier Essence or we don’t have a way to avoid their hidden cameras, I can’t come up with any solutions,” Rinporter replied, letting out a heavy sigh.
Keiro turned to Cresson. “What about you? Do you have a plan in mind?”
“During our search for Grovan, we noticed that there were only a few researchers present in the facility, and no ongoing experiments apart from Grovan being a test subject. Based on Dr. Johnson’s files, their focus was primarily on Elthiers and finding ways to extend the lifespan of Arcanians here on Earth. . . .”
“What are you getting at?” Keiro asked.
“As a scientist, I understand that conducting the same experiments repeatedly can become monotonous. If I were in Dr. Johnson’s position, I would be inclined to explore new avenues of research. However, we have different values. I would never conduct experiments on a human being.”
Rinporter, growing impatient, interjected, “Just get to the point, Cres.”
Cresson finally revealed his idea. “Let’s offer Garo Lat’s body to Dr. Johnson in exchange for Grovan.”
“Well . . . that could be a viable option. Let’s proceed with that plan,” Keiro agreed.
“But is that morally acceptable?” Rinporter interjected.
Cresson responded with a thoughtful expression. “Well, considering that Garo Lat is already dead and Grovan is our friend in need, who is still alive . . . I believe this is the only way to save him. If you have any alternative suggestions, please feel free to share.”
“I don’t have any alternative ideas. But what about Garo Lat’s body? We’ve already buried him.”
“We can exhume his body,” Keiro said. “As for Dr. Johnson, it might be safer to communicate with her through a letter.” He turned to Rinporter. “Can you handle that task?”
He nodded slowly, visualizing the plan in his mind. “I believe I can manage it.”
“Let’s get moving, then. We need to start digging deep.”
Cresson and Rinporter rose from their seats, following Keiro as they made their way upstairs. However, he abruptly halted his step when his phone vibrated. As he checked the message, his expression grew serious. Turning to the other two, he sighed.
“Why?” Rinporter inquired, curious about the sudden change in his demeanor.
“I’m sorry, but I have to leave. I’ll join you as soon as I can.”
Rinporter playfully teased, “You’re not trying to dodge the digging part, are you?”
“Of course not. Olesia messaged me. It’s about Zavian.”