The spirit world is broken and in desperate need of a restoration. True heroes and ancient beasts that once walked are now a thing of the past. Between the empty spaces of forgotten treasure halls there are whispers of one who has returned. One lege...
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Anari did not anticipate using her venom that evening, but that was before everything went absolutely south at the mixer. Bai's true intentions for throwing the event made themselves known faster than Anari had the time to react to them.
She hadn't been there long before it happened. The spider spirit was doing her duty – mingling and trying out horderves even though none of them were of the breakfast variety.
As Anari stood around, chatting casually and admiring the pyramid structure of the atrium ceiling, she vaguely wondered if she should be nervous. Was Bai going to use this event to let her know that he was onto her?
Anari was about to suffer quietly through another meatball skewer when a sudden blast of cold mountain wind temporarily blinded her senses.
At the same time, a sense of relief settled over her.
Oh, good. It's only a drill.
A glass shattered against the floor. Everyone turned, but nobody gave an indication that what had just happened was strange or unusual.
The spirit who had dropped their drink looked around in absolute horror.
"W-what was that? Did someone open a window or maybe..." they swallowed, confused by all of the blank stares they were getting. "Maybe there's something wrong with the paper space on the outside."
"Mr. Shang, I'm going to need you to come with me, please."
The terrified-looking spirit was immediately escorted off of the premises. Then, as if nothing had happened, casual chatter came back to the hall. Everyone returned to their conversations.
Next thing Anari knew, Bai was in her head – just hers this time – asking her to join him in his office.
This was not good.
Anari maintained a professional attitude as she traveled to Bai's most secure study. She was a little surprised by what had just happened. Long ago when Bai first started his company, he had insisted on training all of his employees to become accustomed to his psychic presence. It was designed for cases such as this, where Bai wasn't sure if the people in his company were actually reliable. It seemed that he had just pinpointed an undercover agent of some kind. This was someone who was listed as an employee under Next Dimension Inc, but had never undergone an authentic orientation. That could only mean one thing.
"It's been a while since I've had to deal with a spy," Bai said once he and Anari were alone in a room together. She had a feeling that the trespassing spirit was somewhere nearby. Perhaps on the other side of the wall.
Why did you bring me with you, Sun Bai? Anari wanted to ask. Instead she said, "He's not a very good one."
Bai nodded. "His rank is definitely low as far as spirits are concerned. So much so that I don't think anyone would really notice if he disappeared. Not even the agency that dispatched him. They probably have a dozen just like him."
