Secret Society: Raising Calamity Class Disciples

Jingle.

The bell above the door ringed as Xavier and Eulene entered the building.

The interior of the building looked even older than the exterior. Dirty wooden boards barely stuck together to form the floor. The wooden wall above looked even more horrendous due to all the moss and fungi hanging from it.

Fortunately, there was enough light coming from the windows to illuminate the entire floor. Even the corners filled with cobwebs were clearly visible.

But none of these dirtiness or archaicness were the creepiest elements. What's creepier was the tens of stares, both visible and invisible, locked onto the duo.

Nevertheless, they were not enough to daunt Xavier or Eulene. They were expressionless.

There was a white and unkempt bearded old man behind the old reception desk, his eyes fixed warily on the duo.

The two walked to the receptionist. The other workers on the floor, who were formally suited, had their eyes glued to the pair.

Xavier paid them no heed and told the old receptionist, "I don't know the passcode but…" He put his hand on the wooden desk.

The old man grew warier, but did not do anything and kept observing. The scratches, holes and cut marks on the who-knows-how-old table began to repair by itself.

The old man's eyes twitched as he turned back to Xavier. "Xavier Godwin?" The man asked.

"Indeed." Xavier was not surprised.

"Detective Clark deemed you non-malignant. Never expected to see you here." The old man turned to Eulene. "But looks like there's someone else to be cleared."

Xavier stayed silent, concurring with the man's declaration.

"Step into that room," the white bearded man pointed at a seemingly broken door. "You'll know what to do."

Xavier took back his hand. After a slight bow, he approached the door. Eulene gave the old man one last glance before following Xavier.

[He seems strong] Eulene caught up to Xavier.

[Because he is] Xavier opened the door and entered. So did Eulene.

Dark. Suffocating. These two words were enough to describe where they were.

Despite the stiff darkness, with silk rays of lights barely seeping in through the cracked door, they could sense that the room was only large enough to fit in 6 adults at most. The wall was made from hard steel, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Other than the duo, the only other object in the room was a lever at the floor.

Xavier wasted no time and pulled the lever. The whole room suddenly jerked, so did Eulene.

Eulene was surprised. The wooden door suddenly began to slowly rise up.

They were going down!

She had never heard of such a device before, not even in books!

She suddenly remembered her hall back at the sect, which was on top of one of the highest peaks, and the stairs that lead to it—those cursed stairs!

How good it would have been if she had this device back at the sect!

Seeing Eulene's childlike reaction, Xavier warned, "this invention hasn't been made public yet."

Eulene nodded. She knew what he meant.

After a whole minute of descent, the lift finally slowed down and came to a halt.

A man stood before them, just outside the boundary of the device. It was a familiar man—detective Devon Clark.

"Greetings." The moustached detective took off his hat and bowed. He looked as hard boiled as ever.

Xavier nodded.

"Your visit surely came in as a surprise—a pleasant one if I say so." The middle aged man wore back his hat.

"I never expected this myself," Xavier replied. "This is Eulene." Xavier pointed at her. "We are here on her matters."

The detective bowed. "Greetings. I am Devon Clark."

Eulene, according to Xavier's past behaviour, nodded as well.

"This is not the best place to have a conversation," the host continued. "Please follow me."

The duo complied.

Though they were tens of feet underground, the scene was not dark at all as there were several sources of light—but none of them were torches, lamps or lanterns. The tunnel they were walking through was encased with thick steel. From the metal ceiling, hanged round glass apparatus, that seemed to produce light out of nothing. There was no fires blazing or anything along that line—just pure light.

Before Eulene could ask anything, Xavier transmitted [These are called light bulbs, run by steam generated electricity. Again, these are classified inventions not divulged to the public—not yet]

Eulene was enlightened. She asked nothing further. Instead, she began to calculate how much of her own power she needed to use to slice through those metal walls.

After thinking for a few seconds, she gave up. The answer was too small. She needed that differentia-… differentiation or whatever that aunt Maisel spoke of.

After five minutes of walk, another question hit her mind.

[Just how big is this?] she did not spread her spiritual senses. After all, in a way, she was in hostile territory.

[The entire central district] Xavier replied.

[Is there only one entrance?] Eulene asked.

[For us 'non-members', yes]

Eulene did not ask anything further and followed along.

After another couple minute of walking through the metal catacombs, they reached their destination.

Before the trio, there was a door.

There was a placard saying 'Department of Kinetic Immigration'.

[What does immigration mean?] Eulene continued her questions.

[You will know soon enough] Xavier answered nonchalantly.

Eulene suddenly began to feel nervous. And to beings like her, such forebodings meant that something's going to really happen.

Detective Clark did not show any courtesy and pushed open the metal door.

Inside, there was a whole workplace with cubicles and doors to other rooms. Their intrusion grabbed everyone's attention.

Unlike the wary and creepy attention they faces back at the surface, this attention was of amazement, and the focus was solely on Eulene.

Eulene, clearly accustomed to such reactions, followed the detective to their destination—in front of another door.

'Interrogation room'

Her heart began to beat faster. Clearly, something was going to happen.