Later that evening, Lake returned to the Mystic Order's main headquarters.
The compound had changed since he last walked its grounds a few weeks ago.
New buildings stood where empty lots had been. Gardens and lawns stretched in neat grids, planted with the various herbs he had gathered from rifts and others he had genetically engineered himself. They were tended by hired staff who moved between the facilities with quiet efficiency.
He didn't linger to observe the changes deeply, however. He was in no mood and quickly walked past all of it.
The main building's doors opened before he reached them. Inside, the air was cool and still. Harper's lab occupied the lower floor while his office took the upper. He climbed the stairs without slowing, closed the door behind him, and sat down.
The moment he sat down, holographic interfaces emerged all around him. They showcased the various reports and statistics Bloom had managed to gather in the few hours since he left Solaris City.
