Chapter 156:Decision.
The familiar sounds of the Contractors Association greeted them as they stepped out of the training wing.
Contractors moved between the mission boards and reception counters, while others returned from assignments covered in dust and dried blood. Conversations filled the spacious lobby, creating the constant hum of activity that seemed to define the Association.
Silver stretched his shoulders as they walked toward the exit.
"My head’s finally starting to feel normal again."
Ravenna glanced at him.
"Only starting?"
He gave a sheepish smile.
"Yeah, the headache is slowly disappearing, especially the uncomfortable heaviness that comes with it."
"You’ll have to be careful."
"I think I’m eventually going to get resistance to this damn headache"
He laughed quietly.
"I don’t want another headache like that during an actual fight," he said, then mumbled to himself, "Should I try to find a beast that has a higher mental capacity?"
They stepped outside into the afternoon sunshine. The city was still lively, though the crowds had begun thinning as people returned to work after lunch.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes. They simply walked side by side through the streets. Eventually, Silver broke the silence.
"There’s somewhere I want us to go."
Ravenna turned toward him.
"Another mission?"
He shook his head.
"Not exactly."
She waited for him to continue.
"You remember the abandoned transit research station?"
Ravenna thought for a moment before nodding.
"The one we passed before reaching here. The old building surrounded by the old rail lines."
"That’s the one."
Silver’s expression became thoughtful.
"Remember when I told you I wanted to investigate it, but you know Detroin happened and I got a reality check on my strength."
Ravenna wasn’t surprised.
"You said you weren’t strong enough."
He nodded.
"I was still Rank One. I didn’t know what might be inside since going in without enough strength would’ve been reckless."
They continued walking slowly. The memory of that abandoned facility remained surprisingly vivid in Silver’s mind. Though for the negativity it brought.
Ravenna’s death was associated with it, and he simply couldn’t run away.
Now, after reaching Rank Two, that feeling had only grown stronger, but he still wanted to see it.
He looked toward Ravenna.
"I told myself I’d wait until I ranked up."
She smiled faintly.
"And now you’ve kept that promise."
"I have."
For a few moments neither of them spoke. Finally, Silver asked the question he’d been thinking about since that morning.
"What do you think?"
Ravenna didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked ahead at the busy streets as she carefully organized her thoughts.
"You want my honest opinion?"
"Always."
She nodded.
"Then I think... it’s worth investigating."
Silver smiled slightly.
"But."
He chuckled.
"I knew there’d be a ’but.’"
"There always is."
She folded her arms.
"We’re stronger than we were when we arrived; we’ve learned how to fight together, and you reached Rank Two. All of this is good." She looked directly at him. "But... it’s still an unknown location."
Silver nodded.
"I agree. We don’t know whether beasts have nested inside, if there are other contractors, or even know whether the structure is stable anymore."
Silver smiled.
"Exactly."
Ravenna noticed the smile.
"What?"
"I was thinking the same things."
She laughed softly.
"Good. It means neither of us is rushing into this."
Silver looked toward the distant city walls.
"If anything... I want to prepare even more carefully than before."
Ravenna nodded approvingly.
"That’s what I was hoping to hear."
They reached a quieter section of the street lined with small cafés and flowering trees. Silver slowed his pace.
"When I first wanted to investigate it... I think curiosity was driving me."
He really wanted to know how she had lost her life.
"And now?"
He thought about the question.
"It’s still curiosity, but not only that."
He looked down at his hands.
"My spatial abilities... They’ve been growing unusually quickly. That station... It was researching transportation. Transit technology to be exact, or so I hope it was," he paused. "If there’s even a small chance they experimented with spatial technology... I don’t want to ignore it."
Ravenna considered his reasoning.
"You’re hoping there might be something useful."
"Maybe... Maybe information, equipment, or nothing at all." He shrugged. "But I’d rather find out than spend months wondering."
She smiled.
"I understand."
Silver looked relieved.
"You don’t think it’s a bad idea?"
"I think..." she answered honestly. "...it’s a dangerous idea."
He laughed.
"That’s fair, but danger and recklessness aren’t the same thing."
She continued walking.
"If we prepare properly, bring enough supplies, plan our route and leave ourselves an escape if something goes wrong... Then I think it’s a reasonable risk."
Silver nodded slowly.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
"You already decided before asking me, didn’t you?"
He immediately shook his head.
"No. I decided I wanted to go, but I wanted to know if you thought we should."
Ravenna smiled.
"There is a difference."
"There is."
She appreciated that. Since meeting him, she’d noticed something about Silver. He listened because he genuinely valued another perspective. It made planning together remarkably easy.
Silver suddenly spoke again.
"If we go... I don’t want to leave tomorrow."
Ravenna looked at him curiously.
"No?"
"I’d rather spend another day preparing; buying supplies, studying the map, and checking whether the Association has any old records. If we can learn something beforehand... It’ll make things safer."
A warm smile appeared on Ravenna’s face.
"You’re becoming more cautious."
"I’ve had a good teacher."
She laughed quietly.
"I’ll accept that compliment."
Silver smiled.
"Besides... I’ve started liking coming back to the hotel every evening."
Ravenna looked at him with amused eyes.
"You don’t want to sleep outside."
"Not if I can help it."
She nodded in agreement.
"I can’t argue with that."
The comfortable hotel beds had spoiled them more than either cared to admit. They continued walking until the familiar hotel came into view.
Before going inside, Silver stopped.
"So..."
He looked toward Ravenna.
"The transit research station."
"We’re agreed?"
She met his gaze.
"We’ll go."
"But."
Silver groaned dramatically.
"Another ’but?’"
She laughed.
"The last one, I swear... We prepare first. If either of us thinks something is wrong... We leave."
Silver extended his hand.
"Okay, deal?"
Ravenna looked down at it before smiling; instead of shaking it, she hooked her little finger around his.
"A promise."
Silver chuckled.
"A promise, then."
They stood there for another moment, smiling at one another.