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"Personal space." Clover grumbles at the sudden intrusion. "His name was Star. Star Guan. Think that's his name at least."
Benjamin, Seath, and even Kiara hiss through clenched teeth. "Oof. Heard of him before, bad news." "Yeah, sounds like him." "Darn, I thought that name was familiar!"
You're at a loss, though, you never heard that name in your life. "Eh?"
[KIARA SEEKER] "Old, old D-Corp researcher who got arrested a few decades back. Twelve charges of false imprisonment, four charges of torture, two counts of first degree murder. Still serving time in a 'Behavioral Corrective Facility' somewhere."
[SEEKER OF THE CITY] D-Corp's version of Supermax for corporate employees. With the charges he has? He's properly on a life sentence.
Seath nods in agreement, "Was barely a kid when he got booked but I overheard it from my brothers. It was all over the news 25 years back."
"There's a reason I picked up my mantle." Clover pats at the heavily modified toy revolver holstered on his belt.
Oof. Yeah, can't blame him. Probably why he had such a bad reaction to you shredding that man earlier. You want to say 'sorry' or somethin' but you feel like it would be awkward TO say anything.
The five of you end up in an old living room. There's two hallways, one west and one east, and if Clover's map says anything the west hallway would go to the same place you sent Max and Casey. Good. Even if something bad happens, your groups won't be far away.
The living room itself isn't much to write home about. Peeling wallpaper aside, the room is sparsely decorated and furnished. There's an old fireplace in the back but all that's inside is dust and soot. Above it is a small shelf caked in dust. Might've had something on it a long time ago.
A few empty photograph frames hang above some old pots of dirt that are also by the back wall. The only piece of decoration back here is an old painting of a scenery mountain range.
The only thing else in here is an old kotatsu (some sort of T-Corp furniture that's a wooden frame with a heavy blanket laid on top of it) alongside a few old white mats. You and Kiara stare at it, then back at Clover, then back at the kotatsu.
"Hatch is hidden there." "Oh, absolutely, I see no other place it could be." "Was it THAT obvious, y'all?"
"You did say there was a secret here." "It's the only part of the room covered by anything here. Pots were too small." Seath and Benjamin both chime in. They move in to push the kotatsu away and lo and behold! There's an old iron trap door here.
"Mmh, weird, it used to be painted over to look like the rest of the wooden floor." Clover runs his fingers around the rust clinging to the trap door. "Only ever noticed it because it was colder than the rest of the floor."
"It has been how long ago? 30 or so years?" Kiara kneels down alongside Clover. "Paint or whatever probably just rusted off."
"I suppose. Let's make this quick. I don't wanna bore y'all with this old place too long."
