Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Chapter 69

"Prepare her for the memory search. We don’t have time to lose," one of the men said, turning away from me as if the decision had already been made and I was nothing more than an object they could move around at will.

I stared at his back, my eyes narrowing at his dismissive attitude. These people had barely spoken to me, yet they were already treating me like a criminal who had been caught red-handed.

I came to the Hunter’s Guild for medical treatment, not to be dragged into some strange procedure without knowing what it involved. "Memory search? What the hell is that?" I demanded, my voice growing colder. "Are you talking about putting wires on my head and digging through my memories?"

The man who had spoken earlier turned his head slightly, looking at me with an expression that suggested my question was beneath him. "Yes, that is exactly what we’re talking about," he replied, his tone dripping with condescension.

"It’s a method of examining a person’s memories to determine whether they’re hiding anything from us. Surely, even someone from a small village like yours can understand such a simple explanation."

I frowned, and whatever warmth remained in my expression disappeared. Did this old man seriously think that insulting me would make me more willing to cooperate? I had spent enough time being pushed around by people who believed they could do whatever they wanted simply because they held more power than I did. If these men expected me to lower my head and obediently accept everything they said, they had chosen the wrong person.

"I don’t consent to a memory search," I said firmly.

The man’s expression changed, though not in a way that suggested my refusal had surprised him. He turned fully toward me, his pale eyes settling on my face as if he were trying to remind me of the enormous difference between our positions.

"You don’t have a choice," he said. "This concerns the safety of the Hunter’s Guild and the information you claim to possess. Whether you consent or not, the search will proceed."

I let out a short, disbelieving scoff. "No choice? Then let me ask you something. Does the Hunter’s Guild conduct a memory search on every person who walks through its doors?" I glanced toward Hunter G, who had remained quiet since the conversation began, before returning my attention to the old man.

"If this is a standard procedure for anyone who brings information about Evolved Ones to the Guild, then tell me that. At least I’ll know I’m being treated the same way as everyone else."

The old man’s expression darkened, and he looked at me as though I had just committed some unforgivable offense by daring to question him. "You have no right to ask me questions," he snapped. "Your task is to cooperate with the investigation, not to challenge the decisions of your superiors."

For a moment, I simply stared at him. Then I laughed again, unable to help myself, because his answer had told me far more than he probably intended. If this were an ordinary procedure, he could have said so and moved on, yet he had chosen to avoid the question entirely. He was demanding that I surrender access to my memories while refusing to explain why I had been singled out for such treatment.

"Interesting," I said, the smile on my face fading as I looked directly into his eyes. "I asked whether this was a standard procedure, and you told me I had no right to ask questions. You still haven’t answered me, which makes me think this isn’t something you do to everyone." I tilted my head slightly, keeping my voice calm despite the anger building inside me. "So why me? What makes me so special that you need to search through my memories when you could simply ask me whatever questions you have?"

The man’s jaw tightened, and the silence that followed was answer enough for me. The other two white-haired men exchanged a brief glance, but neither stepped forward to explain anything.

Freya, who had been standing nearby, no longer wore her usual playful expression. I couldn’t tell whether they were uncomfortable with the situation or merely waiting to see how far I would push my luck.

’Lorna, who the hell are these people?’ I asked inwardly, keeping my face still as I studied the men in front of me. ’And why do I get the feeling that they’re not nearly as respectable as they want everyone to believe?’

Lorna answered immediately, her voice clear inside my mind. ’ Host, they are among the bigger figures supporting the Hunter’s Guild branch. They hold considerable influence over its operations, resources, and personnel.’

I waited for her to continue, but the information she had given me wasn’t enough to explain their behavior. ’That’s all? I can already tell they’re important. I’m asking why they’re acting like a bunch of thugs who think the entire Guild belongs to them.’

’ Further information indicates that they have repeatedly abused their authority for personal gain. Their public positions do not accurately reflect their conduct. One of the three men is Jowe’s grandfather, and he is the person who proposed conducting the memory search.’

My eyes flickered toward the old man who had been ordering everyone around.

Jowe’s grandfather? That explained why the man carried himself with such arrogance, but it didn’t make his behavior any more acceptable. I had already noticed that Jowe was arrogant and quick to suspect others, yet I hadn’t expected his family to include someone who could casually order a stranger’s memories to be searched without offering a proper explanation. Of course, being related to someone powerful didn’t automatically make Jowe corrupt, but the old man’s attitude made it difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt.

’So they’re corrupt, and they use their positions to get what they want.’ I thought, looking at the three men again. ’Wonderful. Just when I thought this place might be better than the village, I’ve stumbled into another group of people who believe the rules don’t apply to them.’