I stepped through the sliding glass doors of VHC Central, the black obelisk that served as the beating heart of Valoria's Hunter infrastructure. My old Yakuza instincts screamed at me to turn around. Walking into the headquarters of the people who controlled, monitored, and regulated every Aspect user in the country with unexplainable powers and a paper-thin backstory? Not exactly my smartest move.
Nel's voice still echoed in my head: [Possible storyline branch detected: "Captured by the Authorities." Would you like to activate this path?]
No. Fucking. Thank you.
The Guild Pavilion opened before us like the inside of a cathedral built by corporate executives with a god complex. The ceiling vanished somewhere in the shadows above, making even Luka look small beside me. Black marble floors reflected the cold, recessed lighting, creating the illusion that we were walking on still water.
"Sweet mother of..." I muttered, taking in the space.
