F-Rank Soul Eater-Chapter 126: Invading The Science Research Institute 2

Upon reaching the steel door, Vass addressed Polystar. "We should have followed them in when we had the chance."

And risk getting caught? Where are your brain cells?

Soren thought to himself.

Polystar also gave Vass a look of disbelief, then shook his head.

He placed a hand on the keypad. "Getting in is easy."

Beep.

Ding.

The door opened, and they followed along.

They found themselves in a partially lit hallway.

Luckily, there were some huge metal boxes on the side. Immediately, they used the boxes for cover.

Apart from the elongated path in front of them, there were two paths.

One leading left and the other right.

"Which way?" Vass asked.

Polystar frowned. "It ends here; my source did not tell me where to go.

But it does not matter. We came for information. We should each just take a path and explore it."

Soren shook his head. "That’s a bad idea.

If any one of us is caught, the rest will be in serious trouble."

The three boys looked at one another.

Even though they had fought together against Ivory one time, it was not enough reason for them to trust each other.

Meaning that if they had to snitch on the others for their own safety, they would do it.

There were no hard feelings involved.

Again, they agreed to go together. It was better for everyone that way.

They made a vote for a random path and followed it.

Left.

They tiptoed, eyes darting around like hungry carnivores searching for prey.

Soren spread his Blackfield to its limit. With continued use, it had expanded a bit—now 15 meters in all directions.

He led in front.

Vass was reluctantly placed in the center.

And Polystar behind, similarly using his Blackfield.

Also, if there was an attack on either side, Soren and Polystar could attack without attracting attention, as opposed to the hothead in their midst.

Luckily, there was no one.

They reached the first room.

Vass immediately acted—melting the keyhole.

They walked in, checking their backs to make sure no one had followed them.

Cabinets and shelves littered the room that was 20 meters wide and long.

Immediately, each person took a cabinet they could lay their hands on.

Their hands and eyes were darting to find anything that was important.

They searched for a while, but there was nothing.

With the number of cabinets and shelves in the room, it would take them the rest of the day to go through everything.

That was extra time that no one had.

Soren could not help but have regrets. If he were not hiding his abilities from others, he might have made a few clones to make the work a bit easier.

No matter how hard he searched, there was nothing here.

And then—

Voices.

The three of them looked at each other.

They moved.

Two men entered the room. Both of them in white coats.

"Can you believe it? They actually called over that sugar head crazy woman," the blonde spat angrily.

"She may be crazy, but she is still the best mind in the empire on Shade molecular structure. Also, 17 people are dead." The black-haired one said as he brought out a cigarette, lighting the butt, and handing it over to his friend.

"Oh, thank you. Winter is such a piece of shit." He took a puff and continued, "But she did not even touch them. Just one look, and she said they were not dead."

"Well, that’s not possible. We saw the corpses, even the two fresh ones brought this morning."

"To think that even soulbound warriors can die like that. I heard the Bald one was in the detection center when it happened."

Soren’s eyes brightened. That was Tommy. They were talking about Tommy.

The thought made him shake the cabinet in shock that his friend had second victim.

The two men froze.

Soren felt it immediately.

The shift in the air.

One of them turned slowly, eyes narrowing toward the cabinets.

"...Did you hear that?" the blonde asked.

"Probably the vents," the black-haired man replied, though his tone lacked conviction.

Soren pressed himself deeper.

His body dissolved into the shadow cast by the long metal crate, his outline blurring as Handler’s ability wrapped tighter around him. His breath slowed.

The black-haired man frowned. Something caught his attention.

"Were these cabinets always left open?"

"No," the blonde said. "I always close them when I’m done."

He stepped closer.

Polystar didn’t move.

His body had become a thick decorative flower in the corner thanks to his shade.

The black-haired man reached out.

His fingers brushed one of the cabinet doors.

Soren’s muscles coiled.

Then—

"Forget it," he muttered. "I’m not paid enough to play ghost hunter."

He crushed the cigarette butt beneath his heel and waved a hand. "Let’s go."

They turned and walked out.

As they reached the doorway, the blonde hesitated.

"...Was this door open when we came in?"

The black-haired man shrugged. "Don’t know. Doesn’t matter."

Their footsteps faded.

Only then did Soren move.

His eyes burned.

Tommy.

Was he dead?

The cabinet rattled as he stepped out—

A hand snapped around his arm.

"Soren—!" Polystar hissed.

Too late. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Soren tore free and followed the direction the two men had gone, footsteps silent but furious.

"Idiot—!" Polystar cursed under his breath.

Vass clicked his tongue. "Tch. Of course."

They had no choice.

They followed.

The corridor twisted—left, right, and down a narrower hall where the lights dimmed, and the air grew colder. Voices echoed ahead.

More of them. Some Soren recognized. Doctor Kaya. The Red Sword Inquisitor.

He reached the corner—

—and a hand slammed him into the wall.

His breath burst from his lungs.

Vass pinned him there, forearm across his chest, heat bleeding off his skin in low waves.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" Vass growled quietly. "You want to get caught?"

"They were talking about Tommy," Soren snapped back under his breath, eyes blazing. "He’s here. I need to know if he is alive."

"And you charging in like a lunatic helps how?" Vass leaned closer. "You’re not the only one who lost someone."

Gaze on Soren like he deserved a slap.

Polystar rushed in, pressing himself against the opposite wall, peering toward the open doorway ahead.

His eyes widened. "Oh shit!"

And then—

"Don’t agitate it," Doctor Kaya yelled. "They are stronger now."

Screams.

Boom... Ice enveloped the world.

[You died.]