If Olmedo had been there, she would have been delighted. She loved joining all sorts of strange organizations and had even turned badges that belonged in the scrap heap into a display room.
Annan then learned from Baron Kelly that Thunderfang's group had never been certified. Neither had the black-robed Ratfolk. That had been the baron's own little scheme.
Now that Annan bore the Mark, Baron Kelly considered him one of his own and told him the truth.
Baron Kelly seemed to think the Mark had influenced Annan. Annan played along, acting as though he trusted the baron without question.
"Baron, where are we?"
Annan stepped onto the terrace and looked around. There were no mountains, so he could at least rule out the area around the Imperial Capital.
"Mond City."
"Oh..."
Annan looked enlightened, though he still had no idea where that was. Asking outright would be embarrassing.
"Young Miss Olmedo, can you tell me how you noticed?" Baron Kelly asked earnestly.
"Noticed what?"
"That something was wrong with this Manor."
Annan swallowed the words Anyone with eyes could tell. After a moment's thought, he said, "Uh... Before I answer, I have a question too. What happened to everyone here?"
Baron Kelly sat behind his desk, put the sword hilt back in the drawer, and spread his hands. "As you can see, this Manor is my creation. Everyone in it is a Puppet I made with great care."
"You're that good?" Annan's eyes lit up. Puppets indistinguishable from living people, with even their eyes looking real... Now that was talent!
"Ahem. They are living people..."
Disappointment immediately covered Annan's face.
Baron Kelly felt inexplicably irritated, but Annan was one of his own now. Keeping his composure, he said, "So will you tell me how you noticed?"
"Do you want