Babel

A few minutes after Khö alighted from the room, the relative silence was broken by the sound of Eliza, Emilia, and Krone passing through the front doors of the dining room.As could be expected, Eliza wasn't too happy about the fact that Linnaeus had gone ahead, but, instead of saying anything about it, she adopted a pouting expression, asking, "Were you able to discover anything?"Nodding his head, Linnaeus explained, "It's hard to talk about it, but I was able to confirm some of my suspicions. It doesn't look like we have a lot of options until our contract with the Guild has expired."Hearing Linnaeus' response, Eliza released a tired sigh before plopping down next to him and letting her head rest on the table. She wasn't all that surprised by Linnaeus' words, but, knowing she couldn't escape the machinations of authoritative figures, even after death, she couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.Seeing how frustrated Eliza was, Linnaeus hesitated for a brief moment before lightly patting her on the back and saying, "It's going to be okay. Didn't we already agree to protect each other? I'll do my best to keep you safe, so don't let this get to you..."Chiming in, Emilia nestled next to Eliza, adding, "Lin is right. We're all one tribe. Even if the enemy is much stronger, I won't be afraid. I'll protect all three of you, even if it costs my life~."Towards the end of her statement, Emilia hugged Eliza's body tightly, nuzzling against her in an affectionate manner that caused the petite purple-haired girl to groan in mock frustration.Deciding to leave Eliza to Emilia, Linnaeus looked up at Krone, noticing the latter's steely gaze had been focused on their surroundings. It wasn't difficult to guess what was going through his mind, so, when their eyes met, Linnaeus gave a curt nod of affirmation.Though it could still be a coincidence, this was the second time they were the only guests in the dining room. This wasn't too abnormal, but, when you considered the relatively cheap yet high-quality food, it was strange for the hall to be completely barren two days in a row. The most likely scenario was that every other tenant was already affiliated with the Porcello Company, protecting its properties from internal and external threats while disguising themselves as normal groups of Adventurers and Mercenaries.As if to prove the veracity of this assumption, two figures emerged from the double-doors leading into the kitchen: Khö and Almas. The first was pushing a tray filled with similar dishes to the ones they had previously ordered. Linnaeus noticed her eyes were still somewhat puffy, indicating she had only recently stopped crying...Linnaeus wasn't the only one who noticed Khö's state, but, due to the presence of the motherly woman with glimmering purple eyes, even Eliza remained silent. They all knew just how powerful Almas was, so, unless they were left with no other alternative, it was best to avoid inadvertently offending her.Pulling a seat from the nearby table, Almas sat down next to the booth occupied by Linnaeus and Co. She sat with her back straight, patiently waiting until Khö finished handing out all of the food before saying, "You do not need to worry about paying for these items. They are my gift to your Party. Now, I believe you have already reached a consensus...?"Before answering, Linnaeus made eye contact with each member of his Party, earning small nods from the two girls and a light shrug from Krone. Then, without beating around the bush, he asked, "What are the intentions of the Porcello Company? Even if its to entrap people, I can't understand why you would use a Bapho as bait. What are Khö's circumstances? Why is she here, pretending to be a waitress...?"Rather than answer, Almas pulled out a parchment from her Inventory, unfurling it to reveal what appeared to be a contract. Only after handing it over for Linnaeus' perusal did she explain, "You are a clever boy, Linnaeus...almost dangerously so. If you want answers, you will need to sign that agreement. Don't worry, it is little more than a contract of non-disclosure. Even if you want to walk away and pretend like this was all a dream, the Porcello Company won't pursue the matter~."Though he was listening to Almas' words, Linnaeus' eyes were focused on the relatively simple document. As she mentioned, the terms primarily included protecting the information that was exchanged between them. At the very end, however, there were some troublesome clauses that immediately brought a frown to his, and everyone else's, faces...Staring back at Almas, Linnaeus had a serious glint in his eyes as he asked, "What is the meaning of these clauses? You expect us to become Debtees to the Porcello Company if we fail to exit the Crucible in the next four months? Is this...some...kind..."Linnaeus was originally going to lambast Almas for the ridiculousness of the contract, but, before he could finish, a sudden realization hit him. This caused his eyes to widen noticeably, a feeling of panic surging through his body as Almas smiled and mused, "You really are a clever boy..."With Almas' words being the only confirmation he needed, Linnaeus balled his hands into fists beneath the table. He felt a considerable amount of indignation but forced himself to appear as calm as possible on the surface. Eliza, however, could feel his body shaking slightly, causing her expression to turn dour as she glared at Almas with hostility.Before Eliza could do something that got them all killed, Linnaeus startled her quite a bit when he placed his hand on her thigh. Her angry expression immediately transitioned into a flustered one as she instinctually smacked away his hand, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.Taking advantage of Eliza's distracted state, Linnaeus further surprised his Party solemnly stating, "We will sign the contract..." with a deathly serious expression on his face.Needless to say, Eliza wasn't too happy about Linnaeus' decision, but, knowing he must have a good reason, she begrudgingly pricked her finger after seeing him and Emilia do the same. As for Krone, he remained silent for several long seconds before saying, "I have no intention to leave the Crucible. I will accompany my Party to the top floor as promised before spending the rest of my days repenting for my failures in life. I have no interest in the private affairs of your Company, so I will not sign away my freedom over something so nonsensical."Hearing the usually taciturn Krone speak so much, even Linnaeus was slightly taken aback. At the same time, however, he couldn't help but feel slightly frustrated. He already knew the Krone took his vows very seriously, but, despite rarely speaking to each other, Linnaeus had come to believe that he was very trustworthy. Knowing Krone still intended to remain was like a punch to the gut, especially given the circumstances...Surprisingly, Almas didn't seem to mind Krone's statement, nodding her head as she said, "That is perfectly reasonable. Please step out of the room until we finish our conversation."Rather than immediately follow Almas' instructions, Krone looked toward Linnaeus, waiting until the latter gave a curt nod before rising from the booth. This was giving a considerable amount of face to his Party Leader, something that made Linnaeus feel even more regretful about their future separation...Once Krone had left the dining room completely, traveling well out of earshot, Almas smiled in a practiced manner, stating, "If there is nothing else, please sign the contract. As you are no doubt aware, this is a time-sensitive matter. The sooner we can reach an accord, the smoother things will go."Taking the initiative, Linnaeus left a bloody imprint on the paper, cursing the fate that had led him to this moment. This situation was turning into something bigger than he had anticipated, but, so long as they were able to leave the Crucible, nothing else really mattered.Seeing everyone sign the contract, Almas adopted an expression that could only be described as predatory amusement as she explained, "It is fortunate that the two of you trust Linnaeus enough to sign the contract without a fuss. If he had tried to explain things, well...I'm sure he'll explain it to you..."With Almas' words serving as further confirmation, Linnaeus adopted his usual neutral expression, explaining, "They want someone to take Khö up the Crucible...if we didn't sign the contract, our lives would have been forfeit..."In response to Linnaeus' words, Almas clapped her hands a few times, her smile becoming more natural as she exclaimed, "That is correct! My, my, did I mention how clever your little Party Leader is~?"As could be expected, Eliza and Emilia had hateful expressions on their face as they glared back at Almas. Neither seemed to realize the significance behind Linnaeus' words, their minds clouded by the fact that the purple-haired beauty had been fully prepared to kill them moments prior.Shattering the building tensions, Khö had an extremely apologetic expression on her face as she bowed at a steep angle and exclaimed, "I'm sorry! If it wasn't for me, none of this would have-"Before Khö could finish, Almas lightly pat her back, saying, "There is no need for that, Khö. These people inquired about your situation by choice. If anyone owes them an apology, it would be me. However, this was something that must be done...I'm certain you understand that, don't you, Lin?"At this point, Eliza could no longer contain herself, saying, "You don't have the right to call Lin in such an informal way! You...you vile temptress...!"Hearing Eliza's outburst, Almas just stared at her as if she had no idea what the girl was talking about. This caused Eliza to appear even more upset, but, before she could say anything further, Linnaeus explained, "Calm down, Eliza. I already explained their intentions and I'm pretty sure I can guess their reasons. In fact, I'm almost certain..."After observing Khö closely, Linnaeus had started to realize that she wasn't actually putting on an act. There as little reason to keep pretending when she was out of sight, so, based on the fact she still had puffy eyes when first appearing, it was easy to deduce she had been crying. This implied she had an uncommon amount of dedication to acting, or, infinitely more likely, her reactions had been genuine.With all eyes focused on him, Linnaeus explained, "Khö is a potentiate, just like us. She must have come into contact with the Porcello Company after reaching the Fifth Floor. She must have struck a deal with them, earning their protection in exchange for becoming their future property. Since she is still a Potentiate, however, they can't keep her here unless she fails in her trial...is that it?"Though there was more he wanted to say, Linnaeus felt like he would be stepping on a landmine if he mentioned it too soon. It would be better for Almas or Khö to reveal the truth, allowing him a small amount of breathing room in case his conjecture proves incorrect...Much to Linnaeus' surprise, Almas shook her head, her expression turning somewhat melancholic as she said, "While not exactly wrong, the way you explain things leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It might be difficult for you to believe, but we're actually trying to help Khö. Most people do not understand the true nature of the Bapho tribe. Once you learn the truth, you will understand why we needed to take these measures..."As he could already see where the conversation was headed, Linnaeus nodded his head, taking a bit of the wind out of Almas' sail as he said, "So long as the Porcello Company is willing to provide us with adequate protection and supplies, we will escort Khö to the surface. I'm certain you have your reasons, but, before any of that, I want your promise that others won't harass us while we're cooperating with the Porcello Company."Hearing Linnaeus' words, Almas got the feeling he was behaving a little too opportunistically, but, as his Party was one of only two groups suited to the task, she ultimately nodded, stating, "So long as you were willing to agree to our terms, we intended to protect you. We already have numerous allies within the Guild so there will be no problems. In exchange, you will have to temporarily join our Company, fighting alongside our other Parties in order to make proper use of your Potentiate status. By the time the Main Expedition has come to an end, you will have more than enough Soul Kindling to purchase your life back from that mischievous cat..."Almas' words basically confirmed the fact that their Drop Rate was much higher than average, so, without further ado, Linnaeus nodded his head, stating, "We are in agreement. Now...I suppose it is time you tell us about Khö's situation...?"Seeing Linnaeus look toward her, Khö suddenly became very sheepish, using her notepad to hide her face. It was a rather adorable reaction, earning her a deadpan stare from Eliza and an amused smile from both Emilia and Almas. The latter, however, quickly fixed her expression, turning more serious and professional as she stated, "Well...it all began around forty-thousand years ago..."

Though the history of the Tower stretched back further than all of recorded history, most of the major events that had shaken the Tower were relatively recent matters. This included the formation of the Eight Heavenly Families, the historic moment when the first person passed through the 100th Floor, and, outshining most other events, the climactic battle between the Dragon God and the Queen of the Bapho.According to some scholars, there were between 6.5 and 8.7 million different sapient species that existed when comparing the outside to the inside of the Tower. The reason for this rather extreme disparity was due to the fact that, under the right conditions, monsters could achieve a degree of sapience that allowed them to emulate the creatures blessed by Akasha.It was an exceptionally rare occurrence, but, at times, the union between two different races, rather than produce a half-blooded offspring, resulted in the creation of an entirely new form of life. These creatures were colloquially known as Chimeric Variants, and, depending on the species of their parents, their power and potential greatly outstripped the average members of each individual tribe.In the ancient past, relatively speaking, there were a number of tribes that sought to produce the most powerful offspring imaginable by melding their genes with others. They had tried to subsume other species entirely, and, if an enemy was found wanting, it was often grounds for their entire tribe to be wiped out.The most prolific amongst these tribes was the species of Dragons known as the Verum. They were the offspring of various different Dragon tribes that, in the pursuit of perfection, formed powerful alliances through the exchange of genetic material. This eventually culminated into an entirely new species of 'True Dragons', and, due to their power, they had blasted through a number of Floors that had previously been considered impassable.Unfortunately, despite investing tens of thousands of years to produce powerful offspring, the Verum was not the first tribe to reach the 100th Floor. Instead, it was a surprisingly small Party consisting of only three people. While this wouldn't normally be too big a setback, the Verum could not accept the fact that one of the Party members belonged to the tribe that had, at the time, consistently denied them the title of strongest species: the Bapho.With the other two members of the Party being a simple Hume and a member of the Servae tribe, most of the Verum's hatred was concentrated on the presumed leader of the Party, the woman who would become known as the Queen of Bapho, Meylp Tenderhoof.In reality, while Meylp was, physically, the most powerful, she was actually the weakest in the Party of three. Her other companions, the Lord of Shadows, Yan, and the Queen of the Hunt, Milan, were both far stronger than she was due to their unique Blessings. She had also gotten pregnant shortly after arriving on the 100th Floor, so, while the others continued onward, she had decided to stay back and rear her child rather than risk getting them both killed trying to conquer unknown Floors.Had Meylp followed her companions, things likely would have played out very differently, but, as a result of her decision to stay, she became the biggest thorn in the side of the Verum.Due to the nature of the Havens, the colloquial name given to the Safe Floors, Authority over the Floor was always bestowed upon the first, or the strongest, person to conquer it. Because of this, Meylp had the ability to restructure the Floor as she pleased, creating environmental biomes and even dictating the weather.Despite Meylp never using these powers to suppress others, the pride of the Verum would not allow them to be beneath another. They had lorded themselves over the other species for too long, so they simply could not lower their heads to another. It was the same as admitting the Bapho were stronger than them, a topic of debate that had been around for thousands of years, much to the Verum's chagrin.Now that a Bapho had been one of the first to reach the 100th Floor, securing her place as its Ruler, there was no longer any doubt in the minds of those who had been suppressed by the Verum. If the Verum had been stronger, their massive Organizations, consisting of Parties that were almost exclusively comprised of Verum, would have easily surpassed the legendary 99th Floor, becoming the eternal rulers of the 100th.With their pride tarnished, the Verum began wreaking havoc throughout the Tower, assaulting any and all who dared question their might. This was the catalyst for a massive war that lasted for thousands of years, pushing the Verum to the brink of extinction. At the same time, nearly every Floor, including the Havens, became veritable ghost towns due to the massive conflict that seemed to be without end. Only those that banded together, forming powerful alliances, were able to tide through the war. These groups, including a few descendants of the Verum themselves, would eventually go on to become the Eight Heavenly Families, seizing power in the wake of the devastation caused by their ancestors.What many hadn't known, at least at the time, was that the most powerful of the Verum had been consolidating power in the upper Floors. Their reason for clearing out the lower Floors was to prevent information from spreading throughout the Tower, leaving those above, and below, completely blind to their machinations.After suffering the indignation of being labeled as the second strong species, the Verum had concocted a new plan. They shifted their mentality, setting their sights on any species that was strong enough to reach the upper floors instead of focusing exclusively on descendants of the Dragon tribes.For several hundred years, it became almost impossible for anyone to reach the 100th Floor, as, not only was the 99th notoriously difficult, but the 90th and above had been completely dominated by the remnants of the Verum tribe. The only ones 'allowed' to pass were those who had been carefully chosen by the Verum themselves, allowing them to slowly cultivate a massive force in preparation to overtake the 100th Floor.The only problem with their plan was that, even if they managed to defeat the Queen of the Bapho, it would mean nothing if they used overwhelming numbers to achieve the feat. Their reputation had already taken a massive hit due to their actions during the war, so, in order to secure their rightful position as the 'strongest' species, the Verum continued biding their time until, finally, their opportunity had arrived.Even amongst those who could transform into full dragons, the Verum were limited by the fact they could only use one element. This was something decided from birth, and, while it didn't prevent them from becoming powerful, the Queen of Bapho was known to have immunity to most elements. Her [Behemoth] transformation also allowed her to become larger than a city, so, much to the chagrin of the Verum's Queen, who could barely reach a tenth the size of the legendary Bapho, there was simply no way to defeat Meylp without a powerful trump card.Fortunately, at least for the Verum, the Queen's daughter ended up giving birth to what could only be described as an anomaly after her union with an abnormally powerful Hume, one with the ability to manipulate all five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. This Blessing had not been directly passed down, but, when the young Prince had finally come of age, it quickly became apparent that he was what they had been waiting for.Not only had the Prince inherited the powerful [Dragon Transformation] Blessing, but, against all odds, he possessed the ability to make use of all five elements. This, alone, wasn't enough to make him the most powerful amongst the Verum, but, when he fused all five elements into his breath attack, the results had been beyond expectations.Though it was impossible to substantiate the claims, it had been rumored for millennia that, if you combined the five basic elements, you would create the highest form of energy, a mass of 'nothingness' simply known as Void. What made this so powerful was that, when it came into contact with virtually anything, be it solid matter or magical energy, Void would simply 'erase' everything without leaving behind a single trace.Though it had nearly cost the Prince his life, his breath attack was able to produce a pillar of black energy that carved a path of uncontested destruction through everything it came into contact with. This had caused substantial damage to the Prince himself, but, as it was rather common for young Dragons to injure themselves during their first use of [Dragon's Breath], it wasn't treated as too big an issue.What truly shocked the Verum was that, even after the Prince returned to full health, his teeth and part of his maw remained damaged. Though he eventually made a full recovery, largely through the use of powerful treasures, it was very clear his breath was something far beyond expectations. Thus, in preparation for the Prince's climb, the Queen personally sculpted him into the being who, during his climb, would become known as the Dragon God, Eondu.From the moment he began his climb, Eondu was simply unparalleled. His ability to make use of all five elements made him exceptionally versatile, and, though his [Dragon Transformation] was uncharacteristically small, his speed allowed him to defeat higher Level opponents with relative ease. They simply couldn't defend against what many referred to as his [Void Breath] attack, an ability that tore through other offensive and defensive skills as if they simply didn't exist.With none able to stand in his way, Eondu spent less than seventy years to reach the 90th Floor, making his climb one of the fastest in history. The only reason he wasn't even faster was due to his licentious nature causing him to meander about for months at a time. He had gone out of his way to steal or claim any woman that was even remotely famous for their strength or beauty, forcing them to either submit to him or have their former lovers permanently crippled.By the time Eondu returned to the 90th Floor, even he didn't know how many women he had forced to bear his children. All he knew was that, if there was someone he wanted, their only options were to either obey or beg for death. He considered himself a chosen one, and, after defeating any who tried to stand in his way, his ego had grown to match his power.To further prove his power and obtain absolute authority, Eondu did not restrain himself even after reuniting with the Verum. Instead, he killed his own father, and, after a climactic battle to establish dominance, claimed every female Verum as his own. Even his Grandmother, mother, and two sisters were not spared. Rather, they became the central figures in his harem, bearing him countless children, many of which also became members of his harem, in the decades to follow.Though not as prominent as their father before them, Eondu's children wrought nearly as much havoc in the Tower as he had. This represented a return to power for the Verum tribe, as, after the recent war, few even tried to stand in their way. As a result, many of his descendants even surpassed the records he had set, but, unless they were female, the only reward they received was a quick death.Slowly but surely, Eondu managed to build an even more tyrannical version of the Verum, but, as fate would have it, a 'Reset', which only occurred every 10,000 years, was scheduled to take place when he was just under four-hundred years old. This left him with little choice but to set his sights on his penultimate goal, reaching the 100th Floor and proving, once and for all, that he was the most powerful. He would dominate the Queen of the Bapho, and, like all who had come before her, she, and her daughter, would either submit or beg for death...

As could be expected after such a tense evening, it was very difficult to actually get any sleep. Even after several hours had passed, Linnaeus was still wide awake. The walls of the Hostel weren't exactly thick, so, while most sounds were muffled, it was possible to hear the distant sounds of adventurers and mercenaries still going about their business or enjoying a few drinks after a hard day's work.Of the three in his room, the only person who had managed to fall asleep was Eliza. She was curled up at Linnaeus' side, using his body as a pillow with a defenseless posture and carefree expression on her face. His opposite side was occupied by Emilia, but, much like him, she was still wide awake, her ears and nose twitching as she joined him in absentmindedly staring at the ceiling.As an Assassin and Huntress, Linnaeus and Emilia could stay awake for days on end without their senses dulling too much. They were also the types who were more active during the evening than the day, as was often the case with anyone possessing the [Night Vision] Ability, so neither of them felt even remotely tired, even as the day changed and gave way to the coming dawn.Once the Akashic System showed the time as 0400, Linnaeus wasted little time in extricating himself from the two girls, quickly changing into his equipment as he said, "Help Eliza get ready for the day. I'll go ahead."Though she would sometimes protest when Linnaeus was asking for their opinions, Emilia had been trained to dutifully follow commands since before she could even remember. Failure to obey orders could lead to the death of yourself and other members of your tribe, so, the moment she heard his words, her ears perked up as she answered, "Leave it to me," without further discussion.Hearing Emilia's quick response, Linnaeus gave an appreciative nod before promptly departing the room.Under ideal circumstances, he would have been able to remain active during the evening, collecting as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this wasn't a simple matter when working alongside others, so, now that he had a small window of opportunity, Linnaeus intended to capitalize on it.Eliza, Emilia, and Krone all had their respective strengths, but, when it came to collecting information and observing a target, Linnaeus had an irrefutable advantage. Thus, before they executed their plan from the previous evening, he wanted to confirm a few things with his own eyes...As was the case whenever he stayed anywhere, Linnaeus always made sure to have a general grasp of the building's structure and its surroundings. Thus, he had already approximated the location of the staff quarters, food storage, and wine cellar. While there was no great benefit in knowing these things by default, they were exceptionally important when you were observing people and casing a target.Linnaeus knew, from personal experience, that underground chambers and hidden throughways were exceptionally common, at least within the Slums. He couldn't be certain, but, if there was an active criminal organization, there had to be a network of tunnels that allowed them to move people and supplies without drawing attention.Under ideal conditions, Linnaeus would have liked to sneak around to verify his conjecture, but, after seeing Almas' Status the previous night, it would be incredibly foolish to do anything too shady. The most he could do, at least for the time being, was observe where staff were coming and going. Thus, after reaching the common dining area, which connected directly to the staff quarters, he sat down near one of the walls, allowing his head to rest against it as he closed his eyes and strained his ears.Regardless of what a structure was made of, be it metal, stone, or wood, vibrations would transmit through the material all the same. Linnaeus had learned, a long time ago, that if he sat near one of the main support pillars of a building, it was possible to ascertain the approximate location of the people within by feeling the 'direction' the vibrations came from. If the superstructure was sturdy, it was even possible to hear footsteps from several hundred meters away or deep below the ground...By focusing his senses, Linnaeus could feel people moving around all throughout the building. He could hear light footsteps and dull rustling above, while, echoing in the distance below, a persistent vibration could be felt. He knew this was the sound of running water through pipes, but, if he filtered it out, indiscernible voices and the sound of something tapping against metal could be heard.Though it was impossible to know exactly what was going on, Linnaeus could deduce that the main section of the Hostel did, indeed, connect to an underground network. There was more sound from 'below' than in the staff quarters above, and, while the majority of these sounds likely came from the surrounding streets, the way things 'echoed' was a tell-tale sign that a complex series of tunnels ran below.Whenever people settled in an area for a long period of time, it became necessary to construct both waste disposal systems and waterways. This meant it was relatively common for a network of tunnels to exist beneath a city, but, as there were often strict regulations on who could traverse them, most of the people commonly found within were either criminals or enforcers belonging to whoever held the most power within a region.Without exploring personally, Linnaeus couldn't actually be certain about anything. All he knew was that there was a lot of activity beneath the streets of the settlement. Most pertinent to his situation, however, was the sound of metal creaking and the combination of several voices echoing from the location of the Hostel's wine cellar.Prior to the 'emergence' of the voices, Linnaeus could hear the grating sound of gears and cogs, the sure sign of a mechanism being activated. Then, after a coarse vibration, the sound of voices became far more prominent, indicating a group of people had emerged from a corridor connecting directly to the Hostel.After listening silently for several minutes, Linnaeus heard another mechanism being triggered, this time with the accompanying sound of chains and a dull vibration passing through the underground and slowly 'ascending'. Then, shortly thereafter, he could feel more movement from above, almost as if several people had stepped off a hidden elevator.Thus far, everything was going according to Linnaeus' expectations. He had a lot of time to think the previous evening, so, after considering the matter from multiple angles, he came to the conclusion that, regardless of how much power they had, the Porcello Company would not keep a Bapho in a relatively defenseless location.Almas might be powerful, but, as could be seen from the previous evening, it wasn't as if she was constantly protecting Khö. There would also be times when she needed to sleep or attend to other duties, so, unless they had a constant rotation of powerful figures just to protect one person, there would always be a 'gap' to exploit. Thus, with the Hostel's defenses appearing rather shoddy, at best, the only reasonable assumption to be made was that Khö did not actually live inside. Rather, she was brought out at various locations whenever the Porcello Company was trying to bait people into their trap.Even if rumors of Khö's existence became public knowledge, interest would quickly fade if she never appeared when people went to search for her. After all, a Bapho was a very interesting thing to most people, so, even if most people would steer clear, others would converge just to catch a glimpse of the near-extinct tribe. The fact 'nobody' had appeared when they were eating breakfast the previous day, combined with how 'eager' Khö was to serve them, were pretty major indicators that something was very wrong.Further proving his assumptions, Linnaeus opened his eyes as a pitter-patter of footsteps could be heard approaching the steps leading from the staff quarters to the dining area. Then, as expected, Khö, wearing a frilly waitress outfit and appearing rather sleepy, came walking down the stairs. She acts as though she hadn't noticed him, but, even compared to most of the bestial tribes, the Bapho were supposed to have an exceptional sense of sight, smell, and hearing.After yawning wide enough that it looked like her jaw was going to dislocate, Khö wiped away the residue from her eyes before finally looking towards Linnaeus. Then, in an obvious attempt to appear adorable, she tilted her head to the side in mock confusion.Truthfully, Linnaeus wasn't sure if Khö's behavior was an act or if she was just naturally ditsy. The only thing he could be certain of was the fact she was being used to try and ensnare his Party. This might not be the result of any malicious intentions, but, regardless of the circumstances, their options were being systematically cut off by forces with far more power and authority than they could reasonably hope to oppose.Understanding the disparity between his Party and the other forces at play, Linnaeus knew the best method forward was to gather information and appear cooperative. Thus, with an awkward smile on his face, he raised his hand in a gesture of greeting before saying, "Yo..." in an equally awkward tone.As if she had been freed from some kind of spell, Khö's eyes widened comically before she quickly ran over to his table, bowing at a forty-five-degree angle as she shouted, "Please forgive me! I am a failure as a waitress to leave a guest waiting unattended...gnuuu..."Toward the end of her words, Khö released a frustrated groan, and, though he couldn't see her face, Linnaeus knew she was tearing up. He was honestly a little taken aback by her reaction, as, if it was an act, it was one of the better ones he had seen. Considering he had dealt with streetworkers, gang members, and conmen, this was terrifying in its own right.For a brief moment, Linnaeus was almost tempted to pat Khö's head as her bowing brought her well within reach. He had previously developed the habit of stroking Saht's head, so, with Eliza and Emilia both being fond of petting, it had nearly reached the point of becoming muscle memory.Making a mental note to discuss the matter with the women in question, Linnaeus retracted his hand and said, "It is a small matter. I came here to rest for a moment before my companions show up. You haven't failed in your duty, so don't let it get to you."As if she had been given leniency from her own execution, Khö's showed an expression of extreme relief as she wiped away her tears and sobbingly stated, "Uuuue...thank you..." in between a series of sniffles.Though he was still shocked by how convincing her presumed act was, Linnaeus didn't show it on his face. Instead, he adopted his most genuine apologetic smile, raising his hands in a placating gesture as he said, "It's fine...no need to thank me. Rather, my friends should be arriving soon...you should go and get yourself cleaned up."Showing no apprehension toward being told what to do, Khö bobbed her head in understanding as she continued to wipe away at her tears. Then, before retreating to the kitchen, she gave another low bow, repeating, "Thank you..." before turning tail and scampering away.Assuming he was being watched even prior to Khö's arrival, Linnaeus maintained an awkward smile even after she had vanished through the kitchen's doors. Then, as if all the tensions in his body had been released, he exhaled a tired sigh before reclining in his booth, closing his eyes, and 'listening' to the surrounding vibrations once again...---While Linnaeus was seated within the dining room, Almas had been sitting quietly within the kitchen, a distant look in her mesmerizing purple eyes. The teardrop-shaped gemstone in her forehead was releasing a very subtle glow, and, while it seemed as though she lacked any kind of focus, the truth of the matter was that she had been spying on Linnaeus and his Party the entire night. Now, she was watching his interaction with Khö from start to finish, trying to ascertain whether or not he would be a boon or a bane to their group.The unfortunate thing about her ability was that it didn't transmit sounds, only visuals, so, while she was adept at reading lips, it was difficult to keep track of everything said during a conversation. Thus, rather than focus on what was said, Almas focused on the subtle shifts in a person's body language and facial expression.With more than two hundred years of experience working as a specialist at gathering information, Almas was more than capable of seeing through Linnaeus' act. He was a bit of an awkward boy, so, at least from her perspective, his thoughts were completely transparent. She could tell he was a little afraid, but, more than anything else, he seemed intent on protecting his allies. He also possessed an intelligent glimmer in his eyes, which, if nurtured, would blossom into an incredible talent.Though she was one of the people assigned to protect Khö, Almas' main duty was to profile others in order to ascertain whether or not they posed a threat to her organization. This involved analyzing the motivations and character of their targets, as, even if a Potentiate provided exceptional benefits to any organization, recruiting people who would disrupt the organization from the inside was how the majority of factions collapsed.From what she could deduce, Linnaeus was the type that would expose himself to danger in order to protect his companions. This was an admirable trait, but, depending on the circumstances, this trait was exceptionally dangerous, much like a double-bladed sword. If he began to suspect that his allies were in danger, there was a very real chance he would turn against them...As this thought crossed her mind, Almas blinked back into awareness just as Khö entered into the kitchen. A motherly smile spread across her face when she saw the adorable Bapho, who, even after departing the dining room, still had a few tears building at the corners of her eyes.Opening her arms slightly, Almas adopted a gentle tone as she muttered, "Oh, you poor thing...come here, let me give you a hug..."Hearing the kind words directed toward her, Khö practically leaped through the air, burying her face into the buxom chest of the motherly woman. In response, Almas gently wrapped her arms around the sniffling girl, an affectionate yet sad smile on her face as she muttered, "Now, now, it's going to be okay. You're not going to get into any trouble, I promise..."

Chapter 96: Tensions