"What the hell is this?" Nero asked, his expression becoming stern. He did not mind listening to an offer from some mysterious organisation, but he absolutely wouldn't tolerate being played like this!
"Exactly what it looks like. There is no information on a 'Patrick Grant' within the Kolari database at all. Such a person does not exist, at least on paper, since there are no documents that prove his existence at all. Either there is more to this story, or someone did a very thorough job of erasing his tracks for some reason."
Nero frowned as he tried to understand what this meant. He looked at Bael, and from him sensed a very different aura than the one he had shown before. Earlier on, he was like an immature, spoiled brat whereas now he gave off the impression of someone with great confidence and experience. It was almost as if…
"Previously, were you goading me on purpose?" Nero asked.
"Yes, of course. We had to test your personality traits as well as your combat abilities. It was a two in one kind of situation. Don't take it to heart. We did not intend to ever seriously harm you or your friends. Considering the short time frame we had, we were forced to rely on such crass means."
Nero pursed his lips. After the initial shock of things, which had taken him by surprise, his brain was now quickly working again. He did not waste any energy trying to determine if the file containing information about Patrick was true or not.
Instead, his own current situation required more attention. He had attracted the attention of some powerful organisation, and though Bael stated that Nero would not be troubled if he decided not to cooperate, he was sceptical of the claim.
This was an organisation that had clearly done its research about him, and needed him for certain, as of yet unknown reasons. The only possible reason he could think of at the moment might be because of his somewhat flimsy connection to a couple of Sages.
After all, he was working with a descendant of Sage Gale Carver, and Sage Hiaden had focused on him too many times for people to believe it was a coincidence.
"You still haven't told me what you want from me? You can't seriously expect me to blindly join an organisation I know nothing about."
"Look, like I said, I don't know what they want from you. But you don't have to agree to join just yet. Even if you just agree to consider joining Unity, I can bind you to an oath of secrecy which will prohibit you from mentioning that you were approached from Unity. Then, at a later time, someone can come and familiarise you with Unity and what it does.
You can even take this time to do your own research about it - as long as you do so discreetly.
"The reason I showed you the file is because Unity can help you look into your brother's situation, and who destroyed all the files to begin with. We can also help you look into the unusual circumstances regarding his sentencing."
Nero stared at Bael deeply, yet the teenager simply looked back without the slightest hint of discomfort. Considering the vast difference in their strengths, as displayed by Nero on multiple occasions, he must be pretty confident that Nero could do nothing to him.
Then again, Bael's identity was special to begin with. If he died there would be an investigation. If he died naturally it would be fine, but if there was some kind of foul play it would easily be discovered.
Nero hadn't forgotten that it was, in fact, Bael's father who recommended Nero for this mission.
Nero turned and looked at Silas, who was considerably alarmed.
For better or for worse, Nero saw only one feasible path forward in his given situation. It didn't help that they were under severe time constraints.
"Alright, I can consider working with Unity. But my final decision will have to wait until I know more about the organisation and what they want from me. The clandestine nature of this meeting does not exactly arouse trust."
Bael shrugged.
"It can't be helped. This, too, is a kind of a two in one situation. In the fog, away from prying eyes is the best place to have such a meeting. You also saved our necks back there. Either way, I consider this a win. Now hold out your hand.
I will administer the oath. Fret not, the only thing you will be forced to hide is the fact that Unity approached you for cooperation. For now, that is enough."
Nero held out his hand, but instead of handing Nero an oath card, Bael firmly pressed his thumb into the centre of Nero's palm. Nero felt something warm interact with his aether, and then felt a soft restriction form around him.
He could feel what the restriction was. It was exactly as Bael stated. For now, the oath only prevented him from discussing that he was approached by a secret organisation.
"Accept it, and the oath will be confirmed."
Nero accepted the oath, and felt it take hold.
"You too," Bael said looking at Silas, though the poor artisan was not given the luxury of choice that Nero got.
Nero did not let anything show on his face, but he made a mental note to somehow find out if Bael had coerced Silas to forcefully accept any other oaths.
"Now let's get out of here," Nero said, unwilling to spend another moment here. "I've marked the walls. We can just backtrack our way out. It'll be pretty quick."
Indeed, finding the way out was much easier with each of the paths clearly marked, which made the maze not so impressive in Nero's eyes. After all, under ordinary circumstances one would not have a time limit to solve the maze, which meant that it was only a matter of time before it was solved. Maybe there was something more to it.
The trio had only partially retreated when they were forced to a halt. In their path lay an ever growing pool of blood, slowly creeping their way, filling the entire path!
Nero wasn't the only one who sensed the danger from it, so did everyone else. It felt like they were caught in the gaze of a ferocious monster, far beyond what they were able to face.
The trio retreated, though Nero shot out a flaming Snowflake. He recognised the pool of blood, and while initially he had chosen to avoid it, that might not be a possibility anymore.
Yet his flames, which were his strongest weapon so far, proved to be ineffective for the first time!
The blood immediately quenched the flames and absorbed the snowflake as if it was actually a very deep pool of blood, rather than a shallow one.
"This is very bad," Nero said as he led them down a different path. Thanks to how interconnected it was, there was a possibility of reaching the exit through another path. But there was also a possibility that…
The trio stopped as they saw the pool of blood coming at them from another direction.
"Silas, you said that there's a secret at the end of this chamber. Do you think there's also an exit?"
The artisan hesitated, but then answered truthfully.
"It's unlikely. Who would put an exit right where they hide treasure? Wouldn't that be the same as putting a path directly to what you're hiding."
"And what do you think are the chances that it's an awesome weapon?"
"Uhh, it could happen," he admitted in a very sure voice.
"Excellent. Lead us to the weapon Silas," Nero said, hoping for a very severe case of manifestation. Of course, Nero did not believe in leaving things up to fate, which is why he also asked Silas to take out every flame and heat related card he had in his grimoire. He was going to turn this place into an oven and see if the blood could still contend with his deep blue flames!
"I need to go through the last few intersections before I can solve the puzzle of this chamber," Silas informed Nero. "The disorienting effect of this chamber is actually a hint towards the key to resolving the puzzle. I need to design an Eldrim card with a very similar effect, but the recipe is hidden in the intersections. I need to go to them to find out the recipe."
"There's a recipe hidden in the walls? How come I didn't see anything?" Nero asked out of habit as he lit flames up on the walls and ceiling, away from the reach of the blood. This was a very tricky thing to do, because he wasn't sure how good the ventilation was down here. There was a very real possibility that he was using up thec oxygen supply, but there was no other choice. Hey had no other way.
"It's because my eyes can see through the hints left behind by the Eldrim," Silas said in a very matter of fact way.