The offices were empty during this time; many of the tables that usually had an investigator occupying them were left with their chairs pushed back into the desk. Only two or more boxes took much of the space where someone was supposed to be writing or reading - or using the tabletop for something else. Hardly any sound could be heard inside, save for the constant low hum of the wall and ceiling-mounted fans that were left running despite the place's obvious lack of occupants.

"You've always been the impressive one." Farin held a palm-sized white orb against the lamplight. "To think that you are able to snag their master tabulation sphere that easily..."

"It's a matter of knowing when opportunity comes around."

"Better not sing your praises too much, De Melvich. We will still need to find out if we can get what we need from this master record."

Rinvar was tempted to scratch a red patch on his neck but stayed his hand in doing so. If there was something he loathed about wearing false skin, it was the irritation that came once it is removed from his body. He also disliked the fact that the disguise had to be peeled off him like aged tape. One thing mattered though: it got him through Neue Schwalwerk with barely any trouble. Rinvar thought that by now, the other sanitation inspectors were beginning to wonder about the sudden non-existence of an intern who came with them before.

"The machine will take a while before pulling out everything that master sphere is hiding."

Farin went to a box beside the machine and pulled out an envelope; Rinvar noticed that the envelope held inside paper that was more than what it was meant to carry, judging by the slight bulge from them.

"You might find that the Science Bureau found a few new things for us to sift through. That 'Antikwald monster theory' of yours may have something to stand on, after all."

"What do you mean?"

"There was a team of scientists dispatched to the Schweiglands. Remember that creature?"

Rinvar wasted no time and took the envelopes Farin left at the table. There were familiar files inside. Sloppy work from those scientists in keeping information. The near end of the document had new, unfamiliar papers. It took him a little longer since much of the compilation was written in ways only academics could understand at first glance. Captain De Melvich set aside the files and said:

"This is telling me that whatever Lord Cecil's forces killed in the Schweiglands was a creature of old?"

"That's not even the interesting part. That giant was supposed to be extinct."

"Like... how... what did the Gray Fox do to bring a creature of the past back to life?"

"That is for us to find out, unfortunately. He could be making them."

"Not exactly the easiest to answer there, Director. I'm very unsure what to feel about this. We're dealing with a definite madman here."

Beeps and clicks bounced inside the room; red, green and blue lights of several machines competed with the main room lamp mounted on the ceiling. Not far from the two was a table where a palette-looking contraption was linked to several machines through a fan of cabling. Farin placed the sphere on one of six detents that sat under a round lamp.

"Let's hope that Neue Schwalwerk did not put any codes on this thing."

Beside the sphere's cradle was a screen that came to life in the form of irregular lines; black and white blended in ways that resembled a total blizzard. A shrill buzz was heard from the sphere as bluish-white light from the lamp above grew more intense; Rinvar felt the rising heat of the device on his left arm.

"Any moment now..." Farin twirled a pencil on some loose strands of her hair.

The unrecognizable blur started to take form: a white background filled with black lines at first. The screen took its time to present what the sphere has stored inside. Lines formed together to become characters, and characters to words. Rinvar stared at what was shown and whistled before saying:

"This is going to be a long day for us."

"Let's get started then."

Farin went to a small control pad beside the scanning lamp. Names, places, and delivered items were displayed before them. They were expecting a more nefarious way of keeping the information and yet what was shown was a ledger where the data was sorted only by dates. Farin began navigating through the display using a stick lever on the left side of the button panel. The officers passed through page after page of letters and numerals; Rinvar sneaked peeks on the wall clock while watching Farin go through the records.

It took another few minutes before both officers found something in the data:

20-05 – 343:337

17-06 – 381:402

22-07 - 343:337

23-08 – 381:402

"You also saw it, didn't you?"

"Reads like map coordinates to me, Farin."

"Let's find out if what we think is possible."

Both went away from the screen and approached the table behind it. A map of the empire was stretched, covered by envelopes that bore the Imperial Seal. It was an easy task for Rinvar and Farin to complete; rulers and compasses pointed to certain sections of the Antikwald.

"So, we have Neue Schwalwerk dumping ore in the middle of the forest."

"It looks like it. The way to the Gray Fox's lair is somewhere in the woods." Rinvar stared at the map and made a quick glance at his superior. "We're going to need that patrol team earlier than expected."