Chapter 143: A Ghost Looking for a Ghost

Marek initially assumed that some sort of major incident had occurred, but Rhovan explained that the residents of a district called the Lantern Verge were protesting a proposed redevelopment project.

Apparently, there were concerns about housing, government funding, and several private contractors involved in the project.

Eren asked for more information.

Rhovan translated some of the report while the others continued eating. Marek eventually lost interest once the discussion shifted toward government budgets and administrative procedures.

So, even the Prime Continuum had its fair share of political controversies. However, something else had been bothering him throughout the day. And he intended to discuss it with Rhovan before going to sleep.

Marek found Rhovan inside the study later that evening.

The Leo Astrant had already settled into one of his ridiculous golden recliners, despite the room containing several perfectly serviceable chairs. He was examining something on his personal device when Marek entered.

"Rhovan, we need to talk about my dad."

Rhovan lowered his device. "Ah! I was wondering when you’d bring that up."

Marek sat opposite him.

He’d been waiting to bring this up ever since their train passed the Seat of Measure that afternoon.

"Can we go to the Seat of Measure tomorrow?"

Rhovan looked through the window of his room and turned his gaze back to Marek’s. "Possibly. But I’d rather arrange your Tongue Scripts first. After that, we’ll need to complete your permanent registration before you can begin requesting certain government records."

"Can’t we do both?"

"We could, but I doubt you’d enjoy spending the entire day visiting government offices while relying on me to translate every conversation."

Marek frowned and switched to another topic. "What if my dad never registered?"

"Hmm... Then we’ll have to look for other evidence. Employment records, residential information, business transactions, or people who might have encountered him. It depends on what happened after he arrived."

"And if he left Libra?"

"Then we’ll also find out where he went."

Marek leaned back in his chair.

He had no idea where to begin looking for his father. Eleven years had passed since Tomas disappeared, giving him plenty of time to travel between Worlds or even change his name.

That last possibility frustrated Marek the most. If Tomas had abandoned his old identity, finding him would be even harder.

Marek had just spent the entire day establishing a new identity for himself, and it hadn’t occurred to him until now that his father might have done exactly the same thing.

"Do you know anyone who could help us?" he eventually asked.

Rhovan smiled. "Quite a few people, actually. Although I’d rather not involve them until we know what we’re looking for."

"Why?"

"Because asking the wrong person about an eleven-year-old disappearance could attract more attention than you might appreciate."

Marek fell silent. He had almost forgotten about the reason he’d changed his name in the first place.

Mercer knew who he was. So did Venielle and Sareth. There were probably others in the Prime Continuum who had already heard about the "special" Ophiuchus who Awakened on Earth during Day 367. Walking into a government office and asking about Tomas Vale could attract exactly the kind of attention he wanted to avoid.

"Exactly," Rhovan said as though he read his thoughts. "We need to establish Newton Machiavelli first. Once you have your permanent standing, we’ll begin examining the records we’re allowed to access. If those don’t give us anything useful, we’ll consider other options."

Marek sighed. "How long do you think it’ll take?"

"To find your father?"

He nodded.

Rhovan didn’t answer immediately, but Marek felt like he already knew the answer to that. "I don’t know, Ophiarch. We might discover something useful within a few days, or we might spend months following records that lead absolutely nowhere. Your father disappeared eleven years ago. I don’t want to promise you an answer simply because we’ve finally reached Libra."

Marek lowered his eyes.

Just like the answer he expected. But at the back of his mind, a small part of him had still been hoping that Rhovan would tell him otherwise.

But even the man who seemed to know practically everything about the Prime Continuum couldn’t provide information he didn’t possess.

"Fine," Marek eventually said. "But we’re starting as soon as the registration is finished."

"Of course, Ophiarch!"

"And no disappearing because you suddenly remember some important business," Marek warned. "Also, you should practice getting accustomed to calling me Newton, even when it’s private. Make it a habit. Otherwise, we’ll have problems later on."

Rhovan looked offended. "My dear Ophiarch, you wound me!"

Marek stared at him. Considering the man’s history, that response worried him. Nevertheless, there wasn’t much else they could accomplish that evening.

He eventually returned to his room, leaving Rhovan to whatever he’d been doing before their conversation.

Marek spent the next several minutes examining his new communication device.

He had somehow managed to open the navigation application, but understanding the instructions was another matter entirely. After accidentally selecting several unfamiliar options, he eventually gave up and placed the device on his desk.

Tomorrow, he was definitely getting those Tongue Scripts.

He then retrieved his notebook from his backpack and started writing down the things he intended to investigate once they’d completed their registration.

Tomas Vale. Project Meridian. The incident eleven years ago. Possible arrival records in House Libra.

He stopped for a moment before adding another entry.

People who might have known him.

’It’s impossible he hasn’t talked to anyone here. If he had some plans in the first place, he must have people around him or someone to help him,’ he thought.

Marek had no idea what sort of life his father might have lived after disappearing from Earth, assuming he’d survived in the first place. He didn’t know whether Tomas had found somewhere to stay, obtained employment, or managed to establish himself in the Prime Continuum.

Nevertheless, he resolved himself to find him. After finding, perhaps his father knew something about his mother.

Marek closed his notebook and placed it beside the First Entry Writ he’d received earlier that day. For now, Newton Machiavelli had officially entered the Prime Continuum.

Tomorrow, he would begin making that identity useful.