The Ark Of Growing Storm

"The Prisoners' Den has faced some issues with vanishing people for years, so I don't see a point in sending anyone to investigate the problem on-site. But as I compared it to other years, especially during the rise of the Umbras, that district as indeed lost quite an amount of people."

"No one has reported any missing persons... At least for that particular area. Nope, it was quite the opposite," explained Bryan.

"The opposite? I thought you found the populous of that place to have dwindled?" asked Mavislin, shocked at what Bryan was saying.

"Yes, the area has lost more people but gained more simultaneously. Due to many other districts' crimes, more people are popping up in that area. And I don't know who is behind this act, but the person has done a way to cover up the fact about losing people."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Briton takes the population count every month for each district to ensure the nation's control. And for the past year, the Prisoners' Den's population has remained the same number. A total of five hundred, even if the loss of people every month increases."

"So, the taking in of people for that place covers the number of people that have gone missing? Is that why this issue had been ignored for an entire year?" asked the Valkyrie.

"Most likely, but there are no reports because the Prisoners' Den is a dumping ground for criminals. But that's what I've got for now. The next problem would be the growing storm hitting the West Coast of Teuton. I'll show you the storm later, but I swear, it shouldn't be possible."

"The storm should've been formed in that area, let alone growing fast. And the last thing is the question I've asked you earlier. Z had stated that Vernice's twin has resurfaced, and the Duchess wants to find him. But I had no idea Vernice had a twin," explained Bryan.

The Valkyrie halted in her tracks right in front of the Old Chapel's doors. Bryan stopped as well.

"I haven't heard anyone mention that twin for the past decade... There's a reason why we've stopped answering any letters addressed to his whereabouts. I never thought after a decade, I would have to face this problem again," said the Valkyrie, with her tone changing.

Bryan looked worried as Mavislin's voice became grave.

"You know, Minwoo and I have some skeletons in the closet that we'd like to keep hidden forever, but knowing he's gone... I should have predicted that the twin would have resurfaced."

The Old Chapel's door swung open and revealed the dinner table strewn with food, children, and baby Kai trying to stuff everything in his mouth. Including Nasima's hand, which Rina was trying desperately to pry apart from Kai's mouth.

Dinner was mushroom consommé with truffle ricotta dumplings and pickled mushroom. The soup was made from vegetable stock so Rina could have the dish. Each grown-up had the main dish without needing to share it with another though there was a sharing platter of meats.

The main dish was black cod with butternut squash puree and pickled seafood and carrots. The white sauce underneath was an emulsified butter sauce with white wine and grey shallots. Rina's prominent was different as she ate some roasted avocado and artichokes with a soft-boiled egg.

Kai's meal was pasta with root vegetable bolognese with a lot of cheese. As for the four children around the table, Clement gave them all chicken breasts with creamy polenta and several different types of olives. Drinks were all the same; grape juice.

"So, how's everything coming along with the training? I hear the children are more powerful than predicted," asked Gillian, showing a thumbs-up to Clement to praise him for the food.

"Circe and Amani are great at controlling their powers, but they would need some work on combat skills and knowledge. As for Nasima and Midori, I would have to form a special class since they have to control their behavior in duels properly, and for Duncan..."

Mavislin glanced at the skinny boy as he sneakily took a piece of pork from the sharing platter. Duncan looked up to see Mavislin staring right at him.

"I would need to use your room, Z, to show Duncan some information before finalizing the lessons for him. And if you are wondering about the construction of the Orphanage, Raiyen and I are halfway done, and we will be done after two days. If there aren't any complications."

"I see. That's good then. And I hear from Z and Bryan that a storm is brewing up within the far oceans. What's that about?" asked Gillian.

Z and Bryan looked at each other before sighing. Baldwin looked surprised since there hadn't been any disaster reports for a very long time.