Landon City, Anomalies Bureau, Director's Office.
The secretary had just brought in a cup of hot coffee. Green stared at the steam rising slowly from it.
Across the desk stood Mrs. Hilgaf, tall and broad-shouldered in a major's uniform, her face expressionless. The power within her had grown stronger, reaching the very limit of Formal Rank. All she needed now was time to build it up until quantity became quality and she advanced to Legendary Rank.
Green was delighted with Mrs. Hilgaf's progress. He had never imagined that a housewife from the slums would come so far once given the chance. More remarkable still, years of hardship and the trials fate had put her through had made her tougher than steel wire. She knew when to bend and when to stand firm, and she never gave up. Green had once thought her talent gave her little hope of reaching Legendary Rank. Now it seemed he had underestimated her potential. She might yet surprise him.
Mrs. Hilgaf stood quietly. Recently, she and most of her subordinates had been seconded to an operation under Advisor Hiddink, who had come from Headquarters.
Green had told her that the massive operation was intended to find an entrance to a Void World. He had urged her to be careful and keep an ear out for information.
Half an hour ago, she had unexpectedly learned something important about the entrance. She had come straight to him without wasting a moment.
Green fell silent. He shifted his gaze from the steam above his coffee and looked up at Mrs. Hilgaf. "You're saying Headquarters found a possible entrance to a Void World in Boris Town, outside the city?"
"Yes, sir," Mrs. Hilgaf said in her deep voice. "Miss Monica had called me in to report on the past