Tannyll nodded in response.

"I will." he said.

"I promise." he told her, before excusing himself. He needed to leave and get some work done.

-A couple weeks later-

She had managed to sneak out once more, and stepped into the security are of the Unit, where she saw Jake at the desk.

"Welcome back." he said.

"Here to fill the boss in once more?" he asked, darting his tongue out, and pausing.

"Yeah, it's you." he confirmed.

"You doin' all right?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure." Jake replied, buzzing her in.

"See ya." Roxie said, walking in.

"See ya." Jake replied.

"...strange..." he muttered when she left.

"That was Roxie. I KNOW it. That mana is definitely distinct." he went on.

"But... something seemed... different...?"

Hal just rolled his eyes.

"She is." he replied.

"She knows you're on a covert mission." he told her.

"Hell, she even knows WHAT the mission is." he then added.

"So don't worry. And she still doesn't know that the reason we even know each other in the first place is that you attempted to charm and seduce me on one of my lunch breaks." he added with a smirk.

"Regardless, how are things there?" he asked her.

"Any new developments or news to report?"

Hal brought his hands together, and rested them under his chin, as he processed the info.

"Hmmmm." he mumbled.

"That IS concerning." he said.

"And it's definitely enough to indicate that something is wrong in that estate." he continued. "However, I don't believe it's enough for us to get a warrant and search the place." he then said further.

"We'll need hard evidence that he's pulling something." he went on.

"But you're sure he doesn't suspect anything?" he asked.

"No indicators that your cover's been compromised?"

"...it's clear he has something to hide." Hal commented.

"Nobody is THAT secretive without hiding something incriminating." he reasoned.

He then paused and scratched his chin for a few seconds.

"Well, keep trying to get information out of him." he told her.

"You're very persuasive. I'm sure you'll be able to get him to leak SOMETHING." he reasoned.

"And let me know if you need any sort of assistance or help."

"Hm." Hal mumbled again.

"I see." he said.

"Well, that DOES make sense that Azazel would be the one to contact." he admitted. "I'll make sure he's not assigned to anything major in the next 8 months, just in case." he told her.

"If you notice anything strange the further along time passes, be sure to let either myself or Azazel know." he then said.

"And be careful." he continued.

"This man might just be an average person, but we don't know what he's capable of."

"Sounds like a very paranoid and protective person." Hal responded.

"Then again, he's been known to be reclusive." he said further.

"Nobody's really sure how he's made his money, even." he then admitted.

"Just do what you can, and try not to arouse his suspicion." he told her.

"And trust NO-ONE." he then stressed.

"For all we know, everyone in that house is dirty."

Hal was taken aback for a moment.

"...I... excuse me?" he asked.

"A... Vitra?" he asked her.

"In THIS part of the world?" he asked further.

"That is certainly something unheard of." he commented, thinking about it.

"And you say he may be trustworthy?" he inquired.

"He must be interfering with their memories." Hal responded, referring to the master of the estate.

"But perhaps he doesn't know what this Tannyll is, so whatever he's doing isn't affecting them." he reasoned further.

"I'll trust your judgement on this." he told her.

"But still. Be very careful." he said.

"Don't let your guard down." he continued.

"I don't want anything to happen to you."

Again, Hal scratched his chin slightly.

"Hmmm." he mumbled.

"I see." he said.

"How have you been feeling since taking the position?" he asked.

"Anything different, off, or out of sorts?" he asked further.

He highly doubted it, Roxie being what she was, but he had to make sure.