A Path To Omniscience

After wrapping up their conversation, Asher and Liv spent a few more minutes surveying the warehouse and reviewing specifics with Russet before coming to a decision.

"Alright, I think I'll take it," Asher decided, glancing over at Russet, who stood attentively nearby.

"If it aligns with your schedule and there are no issues, we can finalize the purchase this weekend. That'll give me time to review the materials you're sending our way."

"O-Of course! That's perfect," Russet stammered, barely containing his excitement. The idea of Asher purchasing the warehouse lit up his thoughts with new opportunities. Closing a deal with one of the Frostvales could even open doors to high-end listings for him.

While Russet's excitement simmered just below the surface, Liv's voice cut through his thoughts.

"I can have everything ready by the weekend," she remarked to Asher.

"But if this place is going to be such a crucial asset for you, shouldn't security be a bigger concern? Other than those two guards at the entrance, I didn't notice much else."

Russet quickly jumped in, eager to address her concerns.

"Oh, I can explain that," he assured her, not wanting to lose the sale.

"With the weather getting worse and this district not being connected to Mantle's heating grid, most workers stay inside. You may have noticed that the only visible buildings on our way here were warehouses—that's because most of the staff operates underground."

"So there are other people on-site?" Liv asked, seeking clarity. Russet nodded confidently.

"Yes, absolutely. This warehouse district is extensive, and there are about a hundred workers present at all times. The dropping temperatures keep them underground; they usually surface only for emergencies or maintenance. But no need to worry—security here is tight. We have cameras and a team monitoring the district around the clock from an underground control room."

After his explanation, Liv still looked thoughtfully at Asher, her expression carrying a hint of being unsure.

"What do you think?" Liv asked, glancing at Asher.

"You said you'd be handling a lot of projects here. That could be risky without solid security." She was aware that Asher and his parents were keen on keeping the origins of his inventions hidden, at least from the general public.

Though they hadn't shared all the reasons, Liv could piece together enough. Humanity, even in this so-called time of "peace," was still divided, and places like Atlas and Mistral showed just how complicated that could be. With Frostvale's competitors, enemies, and those desperate enough to take a chance, there'd certainly be people willing to steal from Asher if they got the opportunity.

Asher held her gaze, clearly understanding her concerns.

"It's fine. Regardless of this place's current security, I already planned on adding my touches to things. What you're worried about won't come to pass."

Reassured, Liv exhaled and shook her head with a smile. "Right, of course."

What was I thinking? This is a kid who considers how even his clothes impact others—of course, he'd already thought about securing the place.

With that settled and having seen all he needed, Asher decided to wrap things up. Heading out through the personnel door, he and Liv climbed into the cart first, with Russet joining them after locking up. The ride back was mostly quiet, the silence occasionally broken by Liv and Russet's light conversation.

As for Asher, he simply stared off into space, seemingly lost in thought.

It had been about a month since Asher sold the Spectral Unit Prototypes to Frostvale Enterprises, and according to the company database reports he'd read, they'd been a success. The military would likely have taken notice by now. However, the only way they'd trace the drones back to him would be through a physical investigation.

Virtually, at least, he and his parents had ensured there were almost no links tying the Spectral Units back to himself. Aside from non-physical copies of the contract he signed with Liv, there was nothing else—shipping details had been heavily restricted as well.

Leaning back in his seat on the cart, Asher narrowed his eyes slightly.

If I were the Atlas Military and had my eye on drones, I'd start by probing Frostvale Enterprises directly, maybe through aliases. But even the operators don't know the drones' origin, let alone the corporate higher-ups. That would push them to dig deeper, working from within the company.

But even that won't work. No one outside of my parents knows the drones' true origins. So… their next move would be to investigate my family. If they hit a dead end, they'd start looking to the top. But how would they go about it?

Asher tapped his foot against the cart floor as he mulled it over. Since being connected with the Nexus Space, his mind had surpassed typical human capabilities. He didn't just process information faster; every facet of his mind had been sharpened. He could even hold a conversation while dissecting a separate thought entirely, though it made zoning out all too easy if he got too wrapped up in his own musings.

Still, this meant it only took Asher a few seconds to fully flesh out an idea.

They'll want to avoid drawing too much attention to the drones.

The Atlas Military had always shown a keen interest in monopolizing new technology—one of the strategies that kept them as the world's most formidable force. That meant they wouldn't approach his parents directly; they'd likely gather information on anyone his family had recently connected with. Since Frostvale Enterprises wasn't a tech company, they'd suspect the drones were sourced externally, and that seller would be their real target.

Asher stopped tapping his foot, having mapped out the Atlas Military's most likely course of action in his mind. If he was right, the military would try to pry details from the staff at Frostvale Manor, and they were likely to succeed.

My parents treat the staff well, but kindness alone doesn't breed loyalty that can't be bought. Aside from Lionel, Lia, and a handful of longtime staff members, the rest would likely cave under the pressure of enough money. Plenty of them have seen my demonstration for my parents after all, and my "hobby" in engineering isn't exactly a secret.

So in that case...

Asher placed a hand on his chin, muttering to himself, "Perhaps planting a little mole of information for them wouldn't hurt. Now, the real question is… who?"

Asher sat just behind Liv, who overheard his murmur and glanced back, a curious look on her face.

"Sorry, were you talking to me?" She asked.

Asher shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Hmm? Oh, no. Just talking to myself."

A few minutes later, the cart rolled up to the security checkpoint. The two guards on duty noticed them and opened the gate as everyone disembarked.

With a courteous smile, Russet walked over and extended his hand to Liv.

"Again, it was wonderful meeting you in person." Liv took his hand, nodding.

"Similarly, Russet." With their farewells exchanged, Russet turned to Asher, his tone noticeably more formal.

"It was also a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Frostvale."

"Likewise," Asher replied, offering a small nod.

"Though, please, next time we meet, just call me by my name." Asher turned to leave, Liv following a step behind him. Russet stood momentarily stunned, processing what he'd just heard.

He- He said next time we meet... Doesn't that mean there's a chance he might contact me again?

The idea made Russet's eyes widen with excitement, even more than when he'd thought of the warehouse sale. For a real estate broker, forming connections was just as valuable as any transaction. Becoming a trusted contact for the Frostvale heir? That would be a career breakthrough.

I can't let this chance slip by. I should talk to the manager—if they call again, I need to be the one assigned to them!

As Asher and Liv approached the car where their driver waited patiently, Russet started making a few calls.

The doors to the company car unlocked with a press of a button, and Asher and Liv slid into the back.

"So, since that went well, I assume we're heading back to Atlas?" Liv asked.

"Yeah, we're done with business in Mantle. For now, at least," Asher replied, signaling to the driver to head to the airport. The driver nodded, easing the car out of the parking lot and onto the street. Asher took one last glance at the warehouse district as they began their journey home.

As the car gently rocked along the street, Liv shifted her attention from the passing cityscape to the driver, noticing how he kept glancing at the center console screen displaying a semi-live map of Mantle and their location within it.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, leaning forward slightly. The driver let out a brief sigh as he stopped at a reddish-orange light and then looked back at her.

"We just left at a bad time," he replied. 

"There's a traffic buildup on the fastest route to the airport. If we go that way, it could add an extra hour, maybe an hour and a half." Liv sighed, understanding the hint of frustration on the driver's face moments earlier.

"Isn't there a way around it?" The driver hesitated, then tapped on the screen to display an alternative route. It took them around the edge of the crater Mantle was built around—definitely longer in distance, but, without the traffic, it could save them some time.

"Well, there is another route... but..." His words trailed off as he cast a cautious glance at Asher.

"I was instructed by your parents, Young Master, not to take any detours or stray from the planned route." Asher raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised.

"Really? I didn't know about that. But, if it saves us time, go ahead and take the detour. Don't worry—I'll speak with my parents and make sure you don't get into any trouble for you." The driver's face relaxed, clearly relieved at that. He thanked Asher, and when the light turned green, he turned left, following the alternate route instead of the original path.

Mantle was a crescent-shaped city built around a massive crater, the same one over which Atlas hovered. A large wall separated the city from the open tundra and the crater itself. With the air quality in the crater degraded by years of mining, it went without saying that the closer you lived to it, the rougher life became.

As their detour brought them closer to the wall by the crater, Asher observed the neighborhood around him steadily deteriorating. Though Mantle always had a gritty feel, it typically retained a certain liveliness. But as they drove on, that vitality faded. Broken signs dangled over building entrances and shattered windows marked structures long abandoned.

Sidewalks, once just covered in snow, now bore snow-piled rubble and trash heaped so high that walking along them meant veering dangerously close to the road.

For Liv, the sight stirred a familiar, unsettling feeling—the same one she'd felt when she first visited the poorer quarters of Mistral. People lay curled up in alleys, huddling near the heating grid for a bit of warmth. The air hung thick with a cloudy haze that dimmed everything, pressing down like a weight.

It was a constant reminder of Mantle's decline, of this once-proud city that had fallen from its former prestige.

Liv only snapped out of her trance as the car jolted to a stop, the blare of the horn startling her. At first, she assumed it was a simple traffic issue or another driver not paying attention, but as the driver continued to honk, she leaned forward, peering through the front windshield.

That's when she saw it—a rundown truck parked across the narrow road, slanted in such a way that it blocked their path entirely. The truck appeared to be running, but its tinted windows showed no signs of movement.

"What's going on?" Liv asked, glancing at the driver, who muttered curses under his breath while still honking.

"I don't know," he replied, clearly frustrated.

"I turned the corner, and this truck just pulled out of an alley out of nowhere. Now it won't budge." Realization dawned on Liv, her expression shifting from confusion to alarm. She quickly sat up, gripping the driver's shoulder. 

"Shit! It's a roadblock ambush! Pull out! Get us out of here—now!" Her urgency was unmistakable, and as the driver processed the situation, he hastily shifted gears to reverse.

But Asher's calm voice cut through the tension.

"It's too late; they've blocked us in." Liv's head whipped around, following Asher's gaze out the back window. Another truck, identical to the first, had pulled up behind them, and four figures were already stepping out. The same scene played out in front, with four more people emerging from the first truck.

Each wore a black ski mask, their faces concealed. Yet, beneath the masks and clothing, Liv caught glimpses of telltale features and appendages identifying them as Faunus. And they were armed. About a third carried improvised weapons—bats, metal pipes, and makeshift scrap heap tools.

But two in each group held actual firearms; one in front wielded a rifle, and one in the back held a handgun.

Taking in the situation, Liv could only mutter under her breath, "Dammit, dammit..."