Chapter 158: A Door Into the Mind [ Bonus - ]

Chapter 158: A Door Into the Mind [ Bonus Chapter ]

By the time Jet returned to the meeting room that afternoon, the investigation into Lucien Veyr had taken an unexpected turn.

Marcus had spent most of the morning examining the First Generation Awakener’s professional history, while Cassian and Safiya had contacted several individuals who might know something about his Divine Rune.

Adesewa, meanwhile, had been making inquiries through her own connections, particularly among Awakeners who specialized in mental abilities and the investigation of supernatural crimes.

Their efforts had produced enough information for Adesewa to summon everyone back.

Jet arrived shortly after two, finding Marcus seated before a laptop with several documents open across its screen.

Cassian stood beside the window speaking quietly into his phone, while Bastian occupied his usual chair near the far end of the table.

Safiya was absent, although a small stack of documents bearing her handwriting rested beside Marcus.

Adesewa stood near the display screen, examining a document that appeared considerably older than the others.

"You’re early," Adesewa remarked when she noticed Jet entering.

"Not much else to do while waiting for news," Jet answered, pulling out a chair. "Did you find something about Veyr?"

"Something about people like him," Adesewa replied, placing the document on the table. "And it makes our situation considerably more troublesome."

Jet glanced at the document. Its heading identified it as a restricted research assessment concerning Divine Runes associated with cognition, memory, and mental perception.

Marcus turned his laptop toward him.

"We’ve been approaching Veyr’s abilities from the wrong direction," Marcus explained, adjusting his glasses. "We assumed that if his Divine Rune could extract memories, it would function similarly to ordinary mind-reading abilities. Apparently, that’s an oversimplification."

Jet frowned. "There’s a difference?"

"A substantial one," Marcus answered, opening a diagram of the human brain surrounded by several Mana circulation patterns. "An Awakener who can perceive surface thoughts generally interacts with information a person is consciously processing. Memory-related abilities can operate differently. Some allow their users to observe recollections, while others can interfere with how experiences are remembered."

Adesewa placed the old assessment beside the laptop. "And according to the specialists I contacted, certain abilities don’t require the victim to consciously recall anything."

Jet’s expression became serious.

"Meaning the person wouldn’t even know what information was being accessed?" Jet asked.

"Depending on the ability, yes," Adesewa answered. "Some victims experience confusion or temporary memory loss. Others might not notice anything until they discover that entire portions of their recollections have been altered."

Marcus changed the display to another document. "There are recorded cases involving Awakeners who believed they’d experienced events that never occurred. In other cases, victims retained their memories but couldn’t remember the period during which the intrusion happened."

Jet stared at the information, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

He had seen numerous dangerous Divine Runes in his previous life. Some could destroy skyscraper, manipulate powerful elements, or overwhelm opponents through extraordinary physical strength. However, those abilities usually presented threats that could be recognized and confronted.

A Divine Rune capable of interfering with someone’s memories was different.

An enemy wouldn’t necessarily need to defeat its target in battle. Under the right circumstances, the victim might not even realize an attack had occurred.

"Then how do investigators determine whether someone’s memories have been accessed?" Jet asked, looking toward Marcus.

"That’s one of the difficulties," Marcus replied, folding his hands. "There isn’t a universal method. Divine Runes possess different Authorities and mechanisms. Evidence that identifies one form of mental intrusion might be completely useless against another."

Before Jet could respond, Cassian ended his phone call and approached the table.

"That matches what I’ve just been told," Cassian said, placing his phone beside Marcus’s laptop. "An old acquaintance of mine works with an Awakener investigation unit. According to him, some memory-related Runes can be detected through specialized examinations, but others leave no recognizable traces once their abilities are withdrawn."

Adesewa nodded thoughtfully. "Which means we shouldn’t expect to establish Veyr’s involvement through a convenient examination report."

"Especially since we don’t have Odhran available to examine," Cassian added, pulling out a chair.

Jet understood the implication immediately. Whatever had happened during Odhran’s captivity, the survivors would have to reconstruct it through other means.

Marcus closed the research assessment and opened a collection of financial records.

"Fortunately, we aren’t relying entirely on his Divine Rune," Marcus explained. "I’ve made some progress with the consultation payments we discussed this morning."

He enlarged a transaction dated shortly after Odhran’s disappearance.

"The payment didn’t originate from Meridian Security Solutions," Marcus continued. "It came through a private account belonging to a financial intermediary that previously handled several contracts for Veyr. The account was subsequently closed, but we recovered enough information to identify two additional transactions."

"Who received them?" Adesewa asked, stepping closer.

"One went to a transportation contractor," Marcus answered, highlighting the first entry. "The other was paid to a company specializing in temporary security arrangements for private properties."

Cassian’s expression sharpened. "Transportation and private security. That’s an interesting combination."

"Particularly when both payments were made within forty-eight hours of the consultation fee," Marcus agreed.

Jet examined the records carefully. "Do we know where the transportation contractor operated?"

"Mostly around Zenith and the surrounding districts," Marcus answered. "I’ve requested the relevant service records, but there’s no guarantee they’ll cooperate."

Adesewa considered the information for several moments before speaking.

"Don’t contact them directly yet," Adesewa instructed. "If those companies were knowingly involved, questioning them could alert Veyr. Find out who owns them and whether they have any connection to the people we’ve already identified."

Marcus nodded and returned to his laptop.

At that moment, the meeting room door opened and Safiya entered, carrying a thin folder beneath her arm. Her expression suggested that she had found something worth discussing.

"I managed to speak with someone familiar with Veyr’s earlier work," Safiya announced, approaching the table. "He wasn’t particularly cooperative, but he confirmed something interesting."

Adesewa turned toward her. "What did he say?"

"Veyr’s services weren’t limited to recovering forgotten information," Safiya explained, opening the folder. "He was occasionally approached when someone needed information from an unwilling subject. My contact wouldn’t describe the methods involved, but he made it clear that Veyr’s reputation extended well beyond ordinary consultation."

Bastian unfolded his enormous arms. "So our respectable businessman has been making money from interrogations."

"Possibly," Safiya replied. "But that’s not the most important part. My contact mentioned that Veyr’s abilities have limitations. Apparently, there are certain memories he cannot access reliably, particularly when another supernatural influence is involved."

Adesewa’s expression changed.

"What kind of influence?" Adesewa asked.

"He refused to elaborate," Safiya answered, shaking her head. "But he specifically mentioned binding effects and restrictions imposed through powerful abilities."

Jet immediately thought of the Red Seal.

This time, however, he didn’t need to voice the connection. Adesewa had already turned toward Marcus.

"Bring up the information we recovered concerning the enemy’s movements after Odhran disappeared," Adesewa instructed.

Marcus quickly opened another collection of records. The display filled with dates, payments, and several locations associated with the assassination network.

Adesewa examined them carefully, comparing the transactions with the information Safiya had just provided.

For several minutes, the room remained quiet except for the occasional clicking of Marcus’s keyboard.

Then Cassian noticed something.

"Look at the purchases made during the following weeks," Cassian said, pointing toward several entries. "They weren’t only preparing to attack us."

Jet leaned forward.

The transactions included equipment used for extended wilderness expeditions, reinforced storage containers, mapping instruments, and supplies intended for operations far beyond populated areas.

Some purchases resembled those Mikhail had identified earlier, but their timing suggested a different purpose.

"They were preparing an expedition of their own," Jet observed.

"That’s what it looks like," Marcus agreed, examining the dates. "These purchases began before the first confirmed assassination attempt against our group."

Adesewa slowly folded her arms.

"And yet there’s no indication that they actually recovered anything," Adesewa remarked.

Marcus nodded. "I couldn’t find any corresponding records involving the transportation or sale of large quantities of Palladium Fruits. There are no unusual shipments that match what we’d expect from someone who discovered an entire tree."

Bastian frowned. "Maybe they kept everything for themselves."

"That’s possible," Marcus acknowledged. "But their subsequent activities don’t support the idea that they already possess an abundant supply. They’ve continued spending considerable resources tracking down individual expedition participants."

Jet studied the transactions again, gradually understanding what the evidence suggested.

Whoever had interrogated Odhran might have obtained information about the Palladium Fruits and the people who possessed them. However, knowing that a Palladium Tree existed was not the same as knowing where to find it.

The expedition had discovered something extraordinarily valuable, but the exact location of that discovery remained protected by the oath.

"Captain, what if they learned about the tree but couldn’t obtain its location?" Jet asked, looking toward Adesewa. "That would explain why they prepared an expedition but still kept hunting everyone afterward."

Adesewa considered his suggestion before nodding.

"It’s a reasonable possibility," Adesewa replied. "They might have obtained enough information to understand what we’d discovered, but not enough to return to the source."

Cassian leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Which would mean the Red Seal wasn’t completely bypassed after all."

"Perhaps," Adesewa answered. "But we shouldn’t assume that without confirmation. There could be other reasons they haven’t located the tree."

Safiya glanced toward the records. "Still, it would explain why they remain so determined to capture the surviving participants. If the location is the one piece of information they couldn’t obtain from Odhran, they might believe someone else can provide it."

Jet felt his expression harden.

The possibility carried an unpleasant implication. Their enemies might not simply be trying to eliminate everyone who had participated in the expedition. Some of the attacks could also have been intended to capture survivors and obtain whatever information Odhran had failed to provide.

Adesewa appeared to reach a similar conclusion.

"We need to identify the property associated with those security payments," Adesewa decided, turning toward Marcus. "If Veyr was involved in Odhran’s interrogation, there’s a chance the location was used to hold him."

Marcus nodded immediately. "I’ll prioritize it."

"And Safiya," Adesewa continued, looking toward the other woman, "contact your source again. I want to know whether Veyr’s limitations involve binding effects specifically, or whether he simply struggles against stronger mental defenses."

Safiya closed her folder. "I’ll see what I can find."

Jet remained seated as the others began discussing their assignments.

The investigation had uncovered a troubling possibility, but also something he hadn’t expected.

The Red Seal oath, which had initially appeared insufficient to protect the expedition’s secrets, might have prevented their enemies from obtaining the one piece of information they wanted most.

If that was true, then the oath had accomplished far more than any of them realized.

However, it also meant that whoever was directing the assassination network might still be searching for a way to obtain the location.

And as long as that information remained beyond their reach, the surviving expedition members would continue to be valuable targets.