The subtle triumph of Mei Lin's judgment was still fresh when an unexpected message arrived for Elias: an official summons to the Sutra AI Development Corps headquarters, located in a highly secure, almost secretive sector of the Jade Spire Academy. The sender was a Sutra Corps recruiter, a crisp, unsmiling woman named Commander Valera.
Elias's internal alarms blared. The Sutra Corps was the elite of the elite, the engineers and guardians of the Karmic Ledger itself. They had full Ledger access, capabilities that dwarfed even the Grand Council's standard oversight. An invitation to join them was usually a mark of profound recognition, but in Elias's case, it felt like a trap. Their oversight was notoriously stricter, their security protocols virtually impenetrable. His manipulations, however subtle, would almost certainly be exposed there.
He sat in the plush, unnervingly silent waiting room, the hum of the Ledger almost deafeningly clear in this proximity to its heart. Commander Valera, a woman whose calm demeanor belied a formidable cultivation in the Law of Balance (Rank 5, Elias's Karmic Lens subtly confirmed), greeted him.
"Analyst Thorne," she stated, her voice devoid of emotion, "your recent analytical work has come to our attention. Your ability to discern subtle karmic anomalies, particularly in complex inter-species disputes and within high-volume data streams, is exceptional. We believe you possess a unique aptitude for the deeper mechanics of the Ledger."
Elias maintained a calm facade. "I'm honored, Commander. I simply strive for thoroughness."
"Indeed. Your recent handling of the Sylvan-human trade dispute, for example, demonstrated a remarkable capacity to identify hidden variables the standard Sutra AI overlooked," she continued, her eyes unblinking. "We are offering you a position within the Sutra Corps. A significant advancement. Direct access to core Ledger protocols, advanced diagnostic tools, and the highest level of cultivation guidance."
The offer was tempting, terrifyingly so. It was the ultimate access, the chance to truly unravel the Ledger's secrets from within. But it was also a gilded cage. He knew his methods, his reliance on the unstable bootleg core, would be quickly detected by their rigorous internal auditing and advanced sensor arrays.
"It is a tremendous honor, Commander," Elias replied, choosing his words carefully. He needed a stall tactic. "And one I would embrace. However, my current department is undergoing a critical audit, and my apprentice, Mei Lin, is still in the early stages of her advanced training. She shows immense promise, but she relies heavily on my guidance. To leave now would disrupt vital ongoing work and potentially compromise her development."
He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. You want me? Then you must understand the cost of disrupting my current responsibilities.
"I would, of course, be willing to accept the position," Elias continued, "but I respectfully request a delay of, say, two months. This would allow me to properly transition my current caseload and, crucially, to train my replacement, ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge and maintaining the Bureau's efficiency during this critical time."
Commander Valera's expression remained impassive. She considered his words, her spiritual signature unreadable. Elias watched her through his Karma Lens, and what he saw sent a fresh wave of suspicion through him. Though Valera's public karma was impeccably clean, beneath the surface, faint, almost imperceptible ties to the Alchemists' Guild shimmered around her. Not official Guild membership, but deep, historical connections, layers of familial and financial interests. The same Guild that had tried to trap him, that still championed the Ledger's infallibility.
"Two months," Valera finally conceded, her voice flat. "Very well, Analyst Thorne. We appreciate your dedication to the Bureau's continuity. The offer stands. We will contact you at the end of that period." She rose, a silent dismissal.
Elias walked out, the taste of ashes in his mouth. He had bought himself time, but he was more exposed than ever. The Sutra Corps, influenced by the Guild, was now directly interested in him. His two months were not a reprieve; they were a deadline. And the truth he sought was more dangerous than he could have imagined.