I Need a Reason

The air in the archive grew heavy for a moment.

Remiel Dan did not answer at once. She looked at Griseo, her gaze losing some of its ease and taking on a searching edge.

Griseo's story made sense, but there was one problem... The Seans had targeted the Old Civilization. They had never shown any hostility toward the Old Capital.

Colonel Vick, her Sean colleague, had fought beside her to drive the Black Wall back thirty-seven kilometers.

She could not lightly agree to Griseo's request when it concerned the extinction of an entire people—especially people she had fought alongside.

"Griseo, I need a reason. And evidence!"

"If the Seans really want to wipe out humanity, why did Vick and the others help us? You say New Eridu is their enemy, but where's the proof?"

"Dan, I have two reasons.

First, the Seans have technology far beyond New Eridu's. Yet humanity hasn't found a trace of them in all these years. What does that tell you?

They exist on a level beyond the reach of most humans."

Griseo glanced up at Dan. "The Seans have probably infiltrated the Hollows' ecosystem. The Black Wall may be the boundary of their activity."

Remiel Dan's brow furrowed slightly, but she did not interrupt.

"Second, the Seans placed four super AIs in New Eridu a long time ago.

Ghost, Jinni, Youkai, and Fairy.

They're called 'Keys.' I don't know what they're meant to open. That's why I need you to investigate.

If the Seans really had something to do with the fall of the Old Capital, then they're enemies. Not a potential threat—they've already struck."

"All right! I agree to that."

After a brief pause to think, Remiel Dan nodded. As a First-generation Void Hunter, she would show no mercy if her investigation proved the