The Orchid [1]

Kiel sat back in the taxi, his brain still processing everything Harlett had just dropped on him.

A combat maid? For him? And his sister had sent her to watch over him? This whole "Selfort family" thing was starting to sound like a soap opera, except with more knives and less romance.

He glanced out the window, trying to shake the weird tension off.

The taxi ride felt longer than it should have, but maybe that was just the weight of what he was learning pressing down on him.

His mind kept circling back to the same thought—Kiel might be caught up in something far dangerous than he realized.

He hadn't even been in this world for a week, and he was already a target?

Before he could spiral further into his own thoughts, the car pulled up to a park.

Harlett paid the driver with a single swipe of her card and stepped out.

Kiel followed reluctantly, his head still buzzing with the implications of everything she'd told him.

They walked in silence through the park, where couples strolled hand in hand, children laughed as they chased each other across the grass, and dogs tugged at their leashes.

The air carried the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers, mixing with the distant aroma of street food from nearby vendors.

As they reached the far edge of the park, a massive glass-domed structure loomed before them.

Its surface gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting the sky and the surrounding trees.

The intricate metal framework supporting the glass curved elegantly, making it look like a greenhouse.

"This is where the Orchid is," Harlett said.

"Uh-huh," Kiel muttered, glancing around the park.

The trees swayed lightly in the breeze, the flowers bloomed in a riot of colors, but Kiel couldn't help but feel like he'd stepped into some kind of secret garden where people had a habit of disappearing.

Harlett didn't wait for his sarcastic comment.

She started walking briskly toward the dome, and Kiel—because he couldn't think of a good reason to argue—followed.

He had to admit, it was a strange sight: flowers inside a dome, sunlight filtering through the glass, and yet something about the whole place made Kiel feel like he'd stepped into a scene from a movie he didn't quite understand.

Was this really a secret hideout or a botanical exhibit?

"Is this the place?" Kiel asked, though he wasn't entirely sure how much he was meant to understand.

Harlett glanced over her shoulder, her eyes still looked dead and grayed out a little.

"Yes. This is the second Orchid base."

Kiel frowned. "Second? What's the first one?"

She didn't even crack a smile.

"Classified"

Kiel blinked. "Ah, of course."

After that exchang they reached the center of the garden.

A large, grand statue of a woman holding a vase stood before them.

Water trickled from the vase, the sound oddly soothing despite the tension hanging in the air.

Kiel had to admit it was an impressive statue—if statues could be impressive.

He couldn't help but feel it wasn't just here for aesthetics.

Harlett walked up to the statue and placed her hand into the vase.

Kiel heard a click—loud enough to make him jump slightly—and the doors of the dome slammed shut with a heavy thud.

'Wait, hold up,'Kiel thought.

'This is some secret lair thing, isn't it?'

Harlett glanced at him then stepped back, and the ground beneath them started rumbling.

The statue slowly began to sink into the floor, revealing a large platform that rose in its place.

"Well, this is dramatic," Kiel commented dryly, watching the platform rise.

It was large enough for about four people, but since it was just the two of them, it felt a little excessive.

Harlett stepped onto the platform, motioning for Kiel to follow.

Kiel hesitated for a moment, giving her a flat stare.

'You know, I'm starting to think these Selfort guys are all just a bunch of overdramatic people with a flair for the theatrical.'

Harlett simply stood there, arms crossed, waiting for him to step on.

Kiel sighed, more to himself than anything else he stepped onto the platform and after a few seconds it started to descend.

As the platform began its descent, Kiel couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Here's hoping this whole thing isn't a kidnapping scheme and I fell for it."

Harlett just stared ahead, she probably didn't hear what he said which was a good thing.

The descent was smooth, but the atmosphere felt oddly... tense.

The deeper they went, the more Kiel's mind raced with questions.

What was this place?

Why was it hidden?

Why was his sister involved in this?

And why, oh why, had he ended up in the middle of a family drama involving combat maids and mysterious underground bases?

"By the way," he said, breaking the silence, "if this is supposed to be a secret agent safe house, I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. I expected high-tech gadgets and security measures, not... flower arrangements."

"I'm sorry, Master Kiel," Harlett replied, tilting her head slightly. "But Miss Elaine said this 'flowery base' was originally your idea. In fact, she quoted you saying, 'Make it a garden in a dome inside a park—like hiding a leaf in a forest.'"

Kiel felt his stomach drop.

Shit.

He had no idea the original Kiel knew about this place, and now his offhand comment might've just raised suspicion.

"I knew it. You've been acting strange," Harlett said, narrowing her eyes.

Crap!

Time for damage control. Hopefully, this would cover some of his slip-ups.

"Oh, uh, right. My memory's been a little fuzzy lately," he said quickly. "Had a nasty fall that night I was out, and after that, some things just... slipped my mind. But it's fine now—a little healing, and I'll be good as new."

He forced a casual chuckle, hoping she'd buy it.

"O-Oh, is that so?" Harlett's stern expression softened. "I'm sorry to hear that, Master. When we arrive, we should have Oria check you over, just in case."

Kiel exhaled silently.

That was too close.

◇◇◇

After about two minutes of descending, the platform finally came to a stop, revealing a vast underground cave.

The air was noticeably cooler down here, with the faint scent of damp stone and metal.

The place was lit by rows of industrial lamps lining the walls and ceiling, casting long, eerie shadows.

Kiel's eyes swept over the area—military-grade vehicles were parked along one side, their armored exteriors glinting under the dim lights.

Large steel crates, some marked with insignias he didn't recognize, were stacked neatly, and security cameras tracked their every move.

The hum of machinery echoed softly, and faint red lights blinked on various control panels embedded in the cave walls.

Harlett stepped forward, motioning for him to follow.

"This way, Master. We should meet with Echo first after that we should check in with Oria for your checkup."

She then hesitated, her demeanor faltering for a brief moment.

"I'm not supposed to say this since I'm only a maid, but... Echo, she misses you, Master. I hope you'll greet her well."

Kiel raised an eyebrow. Echo? He had no idea who that was.

'Must be someone the real Kiel knows.'

And judging by Harlett's expression, someone he was close to.

She led him deeper into the base, towards a structure built directly into an overly large rock face— a multi-leveled, metallic fortress with a sleek but ominous design.

Reinforced steel walls, tinted windows, and a retractable bridge leading to its entrance made it look more like the headquarters of a secret organization than anything resembling an "Orchid".

It had an undeniable "evil lair" vibe, though Kiel doubted it was meant to be sinister.

Harlett guided him inside. The moment they stepped through the thick metal doors, the atmosphere shifted.

The air was sterile, carrying the faint scent of antiseptic and engine grease.

And the hallways were dimly lit, lined with reinforced metal panels, and the occasional flickering holographic screen displayed unreadable data streams.

The low hum of a ventilation system and the distant sound of two voices further inside were the only noises breaking the silence.

It felt... empty.

Kiel glanced around. "Is no one home? Or is it just Echo and Oria?"

"Hm?" Harlett looked at him as if the question was odd.

"There are only thirteen people who know about this place, and about eight of them are present. You'll see them soon."

She gave him a small smile before adding,

"Your siblings, Master Kiel."

Kiel's breath hitched.

Siblings?

So he had more than just his big sister?