Chapter 92: Infiltration (3)
Reinhard pulled the first file, opening it across the desk surface where the lamplight inside the room provided enough illumination to read.
He saw the files of monthly storage inventory, then the lists of items received, categorized by type and client. Revenue calculations showing gold earned from storage fees, then worker payment schedules with names and amounts owed.
Reinhard flipped through page after page, his eyes moving rapidly across text and numbers. His expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he was hoping to find better information. Although this did make him think about the past, which ironically made it easier.
He went through the second file, which showed similar content, and then the third, which displayed standard business records documenting legitimate operations.
Then the fourth file shifted focus as he saw shipping records. Deliveries made to various businesses throughout Phane City, with lists of what had been transported and when.
Reinhard’s eyes tracked down the entries, noting client names and corresponding shipments. Most were unremarkable, such as construction materials to building sites, inventory restocking for shops, and household goods delivered to residences.
Then his gaze caught on one entry.
Hope Salvation Clinic.
Reinhard’s finger traced across the corresponding shipment list. It had medical materials such as needles in bulk quantities, various pastes and ointments, and medicines of multiple types. The quantities were staggering, far exceeding what even a busy clinic should require for normal operations.
This does confirm my previous thought, but this amount should be absurd... If I had to take a guess, it should be well over 50,000 gold.
Reinhard’s brows furrowed as lines appeared across his forehead. He leaned closer to the page, double-checking the numbers to ensure he hadn’t misread.
"Is there a reason Phineas is putting so much effort and money into this?" Reinhard muttered softly. "Does he need Miss Martha, or is it for his image? I don’t think you need to go so far just for your image."
He sighed as the issue isn’t even the items or money spent, but the type of person Phineas was. The problem was that Reinhard could really see Phineas wasting such a large amount of money just to keep up his appearance, if it was important to his future performance and stage.
It was such an absurd notion that made him question if such a person could even be real or sane. His gaze then continued down the list and tracked the other shipments.
Most remained unremarkable with standard quantities to expected businesses and nothing that raised concern.
Then Reinhard paused, and his eyes narrowed at a name.
Mekhko Research Center.
The shipment list beside that name stretched across multiple pages.
Laboratory equipment, chemical compounds, agricultural supplies, and construction materials, all in quantities that dwarfed even what Hope Salvation had received.
Reinhard frowned. "So far, only Hope Salvation and Mekhko seem to be extremely important to Phineas..." His fingers drummed against the desk surface. "What would he want with a research center? Unless that’s where he got the idea of using souls as sacrifices?"
He shook his head sharply, physically rejecting the speculation. "No. Can’t make assumptions without evidence, and I know nothing about them."
Reinhard hand moved to the necklace at his throat, fingers closing around it. The metal warmed beneath his touch, beginning to glow with soft light.
A projection materialized above the desk, which displays Vanna’s figure resolving into clarity. She wore the Morimen Academy uniform, her silver hair pulled back, her glasses reflecting light that didn’t exist in her projected form.
Vanna gaze swept across what she could see of the office before settling on Reinhard. "So you made it into the Storage Building main office."
Reinhard nodded once and asked quietly. "Can you tell me about the Mekhko Research Center?"
Vanna’s expression shifted slightly, her eyes focusing on something outside the projection’s view. "Give me a minute."
The projection faded, leaving Reinhard alone in the dim office. He turned his attention back to the files, pulling another from the drawer.
This one documented more shipments, but none matched the scale of what he’d already discovered.
There was one about Hugh Orphanage, and according to the report, it has received regular deliveries of food supplies and basic necessities. The quantities were higher than expected for a standard orphanage, but not alarmingly so.
Perhaps Phineas was simply ensuring the children were well-fed, or perhaps he was stockpiling supplies for other purposes.
Regardless, at least the orphan’s life will be better... If the adults aren’t trash there.
Reinhard closed that file and reached for the next.
Recruitment records.
Reinhard’s eyebrows rose slightly as he opened it and began scanning the first pages. Lists of names, ages, previous employment status, city or town of origin. The format was standardized, clearly designed for the efficient processing of large numbers of applicants.
But what caught his attention was the scope.
The recruitment wasn’t limited to Phane City as he saw towns and cities across the Western part of the Hesod Continent were listed. Places Reinhard recognized from maps and others he’d never heard of.
Each entry showed numbers recruited, positions filled, and dates of hiring.
Reinhard’s finger traced down the columns, his lips moving silently as he calculated totals. His eyes widened slightly at the number.
"I’ve only looked at twenty so far, but in total there are over three thousand workers..." Reinhard caressed his chin, his expression troubled. "Does a company really need so many people?"
The question of funding crossed his mind briefly, but he dismissed it as irrelevant. Obviously, the money came from stolen sources or illegal operations. His attention returned to the recruitment details, the most listed occupations were manual labor, such as warehouse workers, movers, and general assistance.
But it was the applicants’ backgrounds that showed patterns that made him curious. They tend to be poor, homeless, or recently kicked out of orphanages at eighteen.
People who are desperate enough to accept any employment offered ask a few questions about their employers.
The necklace flared with renewed light.
Vanna’s projection materialized again, her expression neutral but focused. "Mekhko focuses on researching farm crops, herbs, and food itself. Their most famous products are wheat, corn, and tomatoes, they’re the biggest suppliers in the current market. They have multiple centers across multiple farms, which they use to test their research."
Reinhard nodded slowly, his mind turning over the information. "What am I missing?"
Vanna’s head tilted slightly. "Did something happen?"
Reinhard quickly relayed what he’d discovered from the massive shipments to Mekhko and Hope Salvation. To the extensive recruitment operation targeting vulnerable populations across multiple cities.
Vanna’s brows furrowed as she processed the information, before her expression shifted. "Could it be possible that the people they’re recruiting are for the Sinners? From the people we’ve captured, they’re usually very young."
Reinhard blinked, his eyes widening. His hands moved immediately, flipping back through the recruitment files to focus on the age columns. Eighteen to twenty-five dominated the entries, with occasional outliers but a clear preference for youth.
"If only I could find recruitment files from years ago for you to check." Reinhard said before sighing. "But it’s highly likely this might be the case."
"It would make sens." Vanna said, her tone carrying grim acceptance. "Use a normal identity and business, recruit people in need of work, then slowly turn them into loyal members."
Reinhard lightly chuckled with a bitter smile. "And they stay loyal no matter what the Sinners do because it was them who saved them from poverty and gave them better lives... What a good method, even though it’s terrible."
Vanna sighed. "The Life Institution that deals with bettering the continent has been pushing for reforms and more job opportunities for people, but well... It’s an uphill battle with how few people wish to take in and train new workers."
Reinhard nodded as he continued flipping through pages, his eyes scanning faster now that he knew what patterns to look for.
Then he paused, and his entire body went still. He saw the farm locations had multiple entries showing recruits being assigned to positions at farms where Mekhko maintained research centers.
"The people you’ve captured..." Reinhard said slowly. "Did they have any affiliation with farms where Mekhko was located?"
Vanna’s sigh was heavier this time. "Even if they did, it would be erased. Like I said, we tried to find out everything about them, but it was erased, most likely the Sinners’ doing."
Reinhard hummed before saying. "It seems a large number of people were sent to farms where Mekhko had centers... I have a hunch, but first, I’m going to check the other storage buildings next."
Vanna nodded once, understanding. "Be careful."
The projection faded, leaving Reinhard alone again. He began placing the files back, each document returned to its exact position, the drawer’s contents restored to their original arrangement.
His memory guided his hands, ensuring no evidence remained of his investigation.
When the desk showed no signs of disturbance, Reinhard scanned the office one final time. He saw nothing moved and nothing was out of place.
He moved toward the window, testing the latch, which opened smoothly, and he felt the cool night air rushing in.
Reinhard climbed through before he pulled the window closed behind him and checked that it sealed properly.
The ledge beneath his feet was narrow, and the ground was twenty-five feet down. It was then that time began slowing down extremely, with the gust stopping and sound stretching into nothing.
Reinhard leaped with his body falling down to the ground before crouching down, and once he landed on the ground. He rushed forward through the yard and leapt over the walls, landing onto the streets before heading into the alleyway.