Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 40

The next day, Matsu was immersed in work at the chancellery. His desk was strewn with documents and digital screens displaying various projects. As he focused on a particularly challenging project, his phone buzzed with a new message.

He picked it up and saw it was from Calie and Marie. The message contained a bright and energetic selfie of them on the set of their music video. Both were striking poses with wide smiles, surrounded by vibrant lights and cameras. The background suggested a bustling set filled with creative chaos. Matsu smiled, his mood brightening at the sight of their happy faces.

Matsu: "I love the photo! Good luck with the shoot and stay safe. Can't wait to see the finished video!"

He set his phone down and returned to his work, feeling a bit of joy from the quick exchange. His attention soon shifted back to the project he was tackling—a detailed analysis for the new Sage Tracker technology.

Moments later, another message popped up, this time from Agapē Mazzen.

Agapē: "The tech for the Sage Tracker is ready. I've also incorporated the latest updates. Let me know if you need anything else. Are the new security cameras working as intended?"

Matsu quickly replied, his fingers typing out a response.

Matsu: "Thanks, Agapē. I'm really hoping this tracker works. I can't afford to wait another two years to find the other sages now that we're so close. The new security cameras are doing great, by the way. They've been capturing traffic and identifying potential suspects with high accuracy. If the cameras are high quality, it's almost impossible for anyone to hide."

He glanced over at the screen displaying the latest data from the facial recognition AI used in police investigations. The system was showing real-time footage, analyzing faces, and comparing them to a database of known criminals and missing persons. The accuracy of the AI was impressive, and it was a critical tool in the ongoing efforts to enhance public safety.

Agapē responded promptly.

Agapē: "That's great to hear. The high quality of the cameras makes a big difference. I'll keep an eye on the Sage Tracker's performance and update you if there are any issues. Let's hope for the best results."

Matsu nodded, feeling reassured. The collaboration between his team and the chancellery's various departments was paying off, and he was optimistic about the advancements. He returned to his work, focusing on the task at hand with renewed determination, knowing that both his personal and professional projects were moving forward.

Matsu was deep into his work, reviewing detailed documents about the new missile developments. The project was crucial, and every detail had to be meticulously checked. As he scrolled through pages of technical specifications and testing results, he stumbled upon an oddly named file buried in a subfolder. It was titled "Confidential: Cleansing Infection Research."

Curiosity piqued, he hesitated for a moment before opening the document. The contents revealed a chilling project that he hadn't been aware of: Sargon Valako had secretly initiated research on the Cleansing Infection, using captured Veil Network operatives as test subjects. Matsu's heart raced as he read through the grim details.

The document described how Sargon had been using the Veil operatives—referred to more accurately as terrorists rather than mere soldiers—as subjects for testing. These individuals, once subjected to the Cleansing Infection, were reported to beg for forgiveness, overwhelmed by the debilitating effects. The researchers' observations noted the immediate and intense remorse from the subjects, who now understood the horrific reality of the infection that they had previously inflicted on others.