Tightening the Leash
Seated in his office chair with his legs crossed, Jack William reviewed the report Tiny Bell had submitted once more through the system window. It was surprisingly well-written, quite convincingly so. Still, she was just a kid. Her reports were always concise, raw and unpolished from an adult's perspective, but this one carried a hint of newfound initiative. For some reason, that struck Jack as oddly amusing—and deeply gratifying. The sunlight pouring down on his back from behind felt almost tolerable today.
"...Looks like she's back to working hard, just like before."
He muttered to himself as he rose to his feet. Sophie, who had been organizing documents, approached quietly with a faint smile, handing over a stack of materials.
"Yes. This is additional investigation and analysis based on what Bell organized."
"This fast? Thank you."
Jack accepted the papers with a slightly apologetic expression. Sophie replied smoothly, maintaining her impeccable posture.
"No need to worry about it. I'm used to it. That said, I'm a bit concerned that Bell is attending mass today."
Sophie glanced out the window, pausing briefly before adding,
"The church leader's words are sure to influence the situation, so the forces stirring this incident will likely make a move."
"Yeah, but she's a proxy after all. She'll be fine."
Truth be told, Jack was worried too, but he wasn't the type to show it in front of Sophie. He deftly changed the subject—to one that had been nagging at him.
"According to the report, she's going with that Adolf Mandel fellow. No major issues, I hope."
Jack's face twisted into a faintly irritated scowl. Adolf Mandel sticking around Bell so persistently rubbed him the wrong way. Sophie eyed the brigadier general's expression with interest before responding.
"That's a good thing. Before, she'd try to handle everything alone. It feels like she's going back to how she was when we first met. I'm relieved."
"Hmph. Bell's still young. She doesn't have a sharp eye for people yet."
"Oh, Brigadier General. Even I, an adult, don't have a perfect read on people."
Sophie smiled slyly, and Jack just flipped through the papers again, pretending not to hear. Before long, he was fully absorbed in the contents.
Conflict instigation, comparison of Rain Code Intelligence Analysis Department report omissions. Confirmation of Luminot import/export, Lumen Guard Intelligence Analysis Department's lukewarm response. What caught his eye most was the confirmation of Luminot import/export and its connection to the Omotenashi barrier.
"Not all barriers have confirmed Luminot leaks, huh."
"Yes, that's right. But Lucia Beloche joining as a proxy raises many suspicions, especially the story she mentioned during her mental evaluation."
"The 'divine revelation' bit. Well, proxies don't just drop from the sky. They're products of science."
Jack chuckled cynically. Sophie gave a wry smile and said,
"The retired science and technology department proxy who oversaw the 3rd generation proxy project at the time now resides in Omotenashi."
Jack recalled his previous visit to Omotenashi. A city that had advanced rapidly even before the barriers went up. In terms of technology alone, it was probably the most advanced barrier city. The flashy neon signs and prevalence of cybernetic enhancements weren't his style, though. Ah, come to think of it, proxies are modified humans too, aren't they? Jack snorted briefly before speaking.
"Omotenashi. The perfect city for a science and technology department proxy to settle in. The most scientifically advanced barrier among them."
"Yes. The Omotenashi barrier commander always sends only their adjutant Minase to monthly meetings, never appearing in person."
Jack gently set the papers down on the desk and perched on its edge. He pondered for a moment, then let out a short laugh.
"A proxy who can produce Luminot, plus the barrier commander's secretive behavior. Does that mean Omotenashi could suddenly find itself under the Grand Marshal's suspicion?"
"Exactly. We'll have to conduct an investigation, of course. That habit of always sending Minase could be plenty irritating from the Grand Marshal's position."
"I wouldn't call the Grand Marshal petty, but that attitude lining up with the current mess is sure to stoke his anger."
"Yes."
Jack had anticipated this much if Sophie was compiling it for him since morning. A light sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead. Having such a diligent adjutant felt almost undeserved to him.
"Meeting's been scheduled?"
"Yes, Brigadier General. The Grand Marshal is taking special interest in the Rain Code situation. He summoned all relevant parties right after your report yesterday."
Jack nodded with a grin.
"The guy who chants 'barrier stability' like a mantra. Today it's the Intelligence Analysis Department on the chopping block, or maybe the Omotenashi barrier commander?"
Jack chuckled softly, then muttered under his breath,
"At least he won't take any pointless interest in Bell this time. Small mercies."
Sophie smiled faintly, but Jack caught the worry and caution in her eyes. Sidestepping the heavy topic, he said lightly,
"Don't worry. I don't know why the Grand Marshal takes an interest in Bell, but if he crosses the line and touches my people, I won't stand for it."
Sophie nodded silently. Then, looking at Jack cautiously, she said,
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Instead of replying, Jack patted her shoulder once.
"See you later."
As he turned to leave with a wave, he paused at the door. Memories of time spent with Sophie flashed unbidden. And the shared worry for Bell struck him as amusingly domestic.
'Feels almost... like a married couple.'
He let out a hollow laugh. Sentimental at his age? Turning away without looking back, he muttered to himself, a twinge of self-contempt rising.
"Getting sappy."
The central conference room where Grand Marshal Mikhail Chernenko waited was already in order. As Jack entered, Phenex Cristel, the deputy director, looked up first. His perpetual sly smile allowed Jack to gauge the situation instantly. Last time it was the director's schedule, but the deputy showing up for something like this? Jack sensed Phenex was about to pin the blame on his superior.
The Lumen Guard Intelligence Analysis Department failing to grasp the situation to this extent was bound to incur the Grand Marshal's wrath. The director might have been negligent, after all.
Jack took his seat, and Phenex greeted him with a grin.
"Brigadier General William. Long time no see."
"Indeed. Deputy Director Phenex."
Jack glanced at Minase, the trembling Omotenashi barrier commander's adjutant seated beside Phenex. Her small frame made the lab coat look oversized, and now her glasses shook with her shivers.
'Even in this situation, the barrier commander didn't come personally. Some nerve.'
Jack, starting to pity her, offered a greeting.
"You've had it rough. Adjutant Minase Motobe."
"A-ah... Brigadier General. Hello."
They exchanged formalities and fell silent. Phenex narrowed his eyes at Minase and said,
"Why so shaky? It's not like you've done anything wrong."
Phenex's tone was polite, but laced with an inscrutable calm. Minase could only nod a couple times without turning her head.
The Grand Marshal merely propped his chin, silently scrolling through the holographic report. His movements were serene, but his golden eyes held something deeper than anger—an unnatural unease.
Mikhail Chernenko closed the panel with a sharp tap, the hologram vanishing like it was sucked away.
"Let's begin."
His voice was low.
"Phenex. Why didn't Lumen Guard notice Luminot leaking out?"
The Grand Marshal's golden gaze pierced Phenex. Just meeting it left the deputy inwardly rattled. The ever-affable leader openly glaring like he wanted to kill—this was new. The pressure was beyond imagination, like rounding a corner into a starving beast.
Phenex forced a calm smile.
"Rain Code's Intelligence Analysis Department recent actions show clear deviations from protocol."
"Deviations?"
"Yes. They concealed or delayed data that should have been provided to Lumen Guard."
"Specific examples?"
Phenex manipulated the panel before him, summoning several holographic windows. Lumen Guard Aria match rates, Aria integrity verification failures. He continued his explanation.
"The Aria cores recovered from total war were rebuilt and implemented with Lumen Guard at the center of the integrated system."
The Grand Marshal glared.
"Yes. And?"
"No issues at initial rollout. But here."
Phenex pulled up one hologram.
"Aria verifies its own data integrity, of course. But from this point, the connection to Lumen Guard severs."
Jack focused on it too. It had been mere months since the Grand Marshal declared Aria's reintroduction.
Phenex pressed on.
"Yet Rain Code reports are normally collected in Lumen Guard. Meaning it's connected to Lumen Guard Aria but uncontrollable by Lumen Guard—a separate Aria."
"Dogshit."
Mikhail growled like a beast, and Phenex shut his mouth. Jack was shocked by the revelation but reaffirmed his view that reintroducing Aria had been a mistake. Ironically, though—the man who'd handled barrier stability with ruthless efficiency, who'd seen the world crumble outside... why?
The contradiction felt off. For barrier stability, it should be ruthlessly excluded.
Phenex paused, then spoke again.
"Director Remar leaned passive, prioritizing calming protests over action."
Jack opened his mouth at his old comrade's name, but Phenex continued.
"Fortunately for you, Brigadier General. Reports to Remar were tampered with. He likely didn't see it as serious."
"Tampered reports?"
Jack felt a measure of relief.
"Yes. Not Aria directly collecting data—someone intervened."
"Aria was redesigned strictly as an advisor. No independent judgment. And no one can falsify base facts. The entire science and technology department knows that."
"Yes. Lumen Guard's Aria is under your direct oversight, Grand Marshal, but Rain Code's wasn't."
"How was Aria altered? Without Lumen Guard Aria noticing."
The Grand Marshal's gaze slowly shifted to Minase, like a predator eyeing prey. Sweat poured from her as she stammered,
"W-we... we'll investigate."
Her trembling voice begged for mercy. Mikhail turned to her fully; she immediately bowed her head.
"Omotenashi is the investigation target. Not the one requesting it."
His icy tone, far from usual, forced Minase to cling to composure. Silence fell.
Phenex broke it.
"And through Kyle Walker on-site, we confirmed Rain Code Aria's repeated verification failures were concealed by our director."
Jack smirked inwardly. Lumen Guard's department couldn't dodge blame. Charging ahead, sacrificing his superior?
Phenex added with an enigmatic expression,
"The director's position was revoked on my judgment. Internal investigation underway."
His humility seemed feigned, laced with audacity.
"Clear evidence he knew and ignored it. Allowing uncontrolled Aria is treason-level."
The Grand Marshal stared silently. Phenex met it unflinchingly, unmoved where it had drained Minase.
Jack frowned. As expected.
'Whether the director was incompetent or willfully blind, prime opportunity for Phenex.'
Normally, you'd handle internally or report ahead. But Phenex's preemptive strike: revoking position, launching probe—and announcing here.
'He knew and waited. Kyle Walker for confirmation.'
The Grand Marshal leaned back slowly. Outwardly calm, the prolonged silence sharpened the pressure.
"Proof?"
"Yes. All materials forwarded. As deputy, I'm prepared to take responsibility."
Phenex bowed humbly. Inwardly, he grinned. The Grand Marshal craved stability. If convinced, this preemptive action was flawless.
Jack realized Phenex had meticulously accounted for Mikhail's temperament—paving his path to director. Mikhail knew too. His borderline overreach irked, but it wasn't harmful to the barriers.
"Guard Corps will handle the director probe. Post-investigation, Phenex Cristel takes Lumen Guard Intelligence Analysis Department."
"Understood."
"Conclusion: something beyond our control."
Mikhail scowled, gripping the desk panel. Crunch—it crumpled easily in his hand. Jack, a fellow proxy, wasn't surprised, but Phenex faltered slightly, and Minase buried her head in her coat.
"Can't have that. Everything must be under control."
Mikhail muttered, releasing the panel. The uncontrollables? Eliminate them. That was his verdict. His hardened expression radiated immense pressure.
Suddenly, his gaze fixed on Jack.
"Combat Response found Freigel."
"Yes."
"Threats to the barrier might provoke him."
A direct order to keep Combat Response in line. Jack nodded.
"I'll relay to the unit."
Mikhail pondered, glancing at trembling Minase. He grasped why politics needed fear. Before further deviation.
"No. I'll go to Rain Code."
Low and firm. Before Jack or Phenex could speak, he rose.
"Meeting adjourned."