Juro's self-sacrifice, a desperate act of loyalty, bought Elias a reprieve, but the walls were closing in. He felt the cold breath of High Sage Arthan, now revealed as the true architect of the Ledger's corruption, lurking in the shadows. The Sage's next move confirmed his escalating awareness of Elias's activities.
A Rank 6 Sentinel, a figure of immense power and authority known to be directly linked to Sage Arthan, materialized in Elias's sector. His presence was not a random patrol. He moved with a chilling, predatory precision, his gaze sweeping over Elias's workstation.
"Analyst Thorne," the Sentinel boomed, his voice resonating with an authority that brooked no argument. "By direct order of the Grand Council, I am here to conduct an unscheduled, comprehensive audit of your digital and physical files. Every document, every query log, every personal communication. It will all be scrutinized."
Elias's heart hammered against his ribs. This was it. Arthan was coming for him. The Sentinel's demand was a direct threat, a fishing expedition designed to uncover his every secret, every manipulation. He couldn't resist without revealing himself, but he couldn't comply without exposing everything.
He needed a distraction, a stalling tactic, something that would buy him time without raising further suspicion. His mind raced, pulling from the obscure, ancient records he had been forced to study.
"Commander," Elias replied, maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor, "I welcome any audit. Transparency is paramount for the Bureau. However," he continued, reaching for a dusty, ornate data-scroll he kept on his desk—a relic from an old, minor historical case he'd once resolved. He activated a hidden holographic projection from it. "I must ask that you first acknowledge this."
The projection flickered to life, displaying a commendation, ancient and faded, but bearing the unmistakable seal of a dead High Sage – a Sage known for their strict adherence to protocol and their rigorous standards. The commendation praised "Analyst Elias Thorne" for "exceptional service and unwavering loyalty to the fundamental principles of karmic justice," awarding him a rare, ceremonial "Scroll of Immutable Trust" for "discreet and sensitive handling of confidential matters of state."
It was a brilliant forgery, created in the dead of night using the Ledger's blind spot and leveraging a forgotten, minor commendation system that only the most ancient Sages had access to. The dead Sage's karmic signature was meticulously replicated, lending the commendation an aura of unimpeachable authenticity.
The Rank 6 Sentinel paused, his visible eyebrow arching. Such a commendation, from such a revered, long-dead Sage, was an artifact of immense prestige. It suggested Elias was operating under an authority beyond the usual Bureau chain of command, a kind of unspoken, historical trust. It didn't exempt him from the audit, but it complicated it, signaling that he might be connected to something larger, something even the Sentinel might not be privy to.
"A Scroll of Immutable Trust?" the Sentinel murmured, his voice laced with surprise. "This... requires verification. The audit will proceed, Analyst Thorne, but with a necessary delay. I will return when this commendation's authenticity has been fully confirmed by the Grand Council's archives."
The Sentinel retreated, leaving Elias alone, breathless but intact. He had earned himself a temporary reprieve, a vital few hours or even a day, at most. He had stalled the audit, but it was just that: a stall.
As soon as the Sentinel was out of earshot, the voice of the Observer, emanating from a hidden speaker in Elias's terminal, resonated with quiet urgency. "Arthan knows you're digging, 'Accountant.' He's testing your defenses. He's sending his most loyal instruments. The dead Sage's commendation will only buy us a little time. We need to move faster."