The palace had not been searched this thoroughly since Basch took the mantle of Gabranth. However, the traces the thief left were few, and much to the surprise of everyone involved, nobody reported anything missing.
A few locks showed scratch-marks of the kind lock-picks would normally leave, but the only rooms the thief seemed to have sought entrance to were the offices of some high ranking military officials that held nothing except for a few letters and documents of minor value, and none of these were missing. Had they been at war, an intrusion into these very rooms might have been disastrous, but currently they held no valuable information. All intelligence was kept in the 9th bureau, and their offices were in a different passage of the palace.
In his report, Basch stated that the thief, obviously young and possibly inexperienced, might not have been familiar with the structure of the palace and accidentally ended up in that wing of the building that held the least valuables. But even to his own ears, this explanation sounded hollow. Even an amateur would have noticed after the first office that she was in the wrong place and sought her fortune elsewhere, yet she stayed and continued to intrude into every single room in that wing of the palace. The woman he encountered was no amateur.
Some locks of office doors held scratch-marks, yes, but all of them had been opened eventually. She might have been to other rooms and simply not left any marks. Also the fact that not a single lock proved too difficult for the intruder implied that the young woman he encountered was either very skilled, or not the only thief who had visited the palace recently.
His feet carried him through the corridors, the rhythmical noise his boots made on the marble floor calming his nerves. This was new ground for him. He was the leader of the 9th bureau now, his responsibilities were information and espionage. His brother had years of expertise in this field, but for Basch, this was new. However, he had to keep up appearances and figure out a way to uncover the intentions behind this break-in. There was little doubt in his mind that this was not just a coincidence. Who would break into the Imperial palace of all places hoping good fortune alone would lead them to treasure?
Well, Vaan would, but that didn't count.
Basch's thoughts were interrupted when the huge doors in front of him were opened to reveal the emperor's study.
Lord Larsa was sitting on his desk and greeted the Judge Magister with a smile. Gabranth's nod towards the judges in the corners were enough to dismiss them, and only moments later he found himself alone with the Emperor. He took off his helmet and bowed before the young man who put down his pen and cast an appraising glance at his elder.
"You look tired" he stated. The Judge only cleared his throat. He did not want to discuss his recent lack of sleep with the Emperor and decided to cut straight to business.
"We have found no further traces of the intruder. She may very well have been working alone for all we know." "But you do not believe so" Larsa continued his unspoken words. "Nay," the judge replied. It made little sense, no single thief would choose the basis of every Judge and Magister the Empire had. It was practically suicide.
"And the search troops?" the young Emperor inquired. "They found nothing. She might have survived the fall, but if she did not, her body has not yet washed up ashore." Larsa nodded and leaned back in his chair, his eyes examining Gabranth's face. "What do you make of all this, Gabranth?" "I believe there is more to this break-in than hits the eye. This was not the last we heard of this thief, or her accomplices" he replied truthfully. Fearing. Hoping.
The Emperor stood up and walked around his desk. His eyes wandered towards the window. It was early autumn, the sun was shining brightly but cold winds from the east announced the coming winter. He could see the city looming in the distance, its skyscrapers standing proudly against the blue sky. "It is most unsettling" he finally said. Basch couldn't agree more. Had the thief been an assassin instead, and had had any sense of direction, this could have been a close call. "We still have no intelligence on how the intruder managed to enter the palace" Gabranth added. "If we do not find the breach soon, we must take other measures to ensure your safety, your excellency." Larsa turned around and frowned at the Judge. "You think there might be a threat to my life?" He sounded incredulous. There was no indication whatsoever that the intruder had wanted to cause anyone any harm. Apart, of course, from the Judge who confronted her at the bridge. "We cannot take any risks considering your safety, my lord." Larsa nodded. Of course Gabranth was right. The mere fact that the young woman had made it as far as she did was unsettling.
"So how shall your investigation proceed?" There it was, the one question Gabranth had been asking himself all day long. "I have ordered investigations comparing this break-in to previous ones in the city as well as given a description of the intruder. Maybe we will find similarities or patterns corresponding with previous break-ins." Larsa nodded. This was standard procedure and he was glad to see the Judge followed protocol. "Furthermore I have sent reconnaissance units into the city and old Archades to learn what they can. We must find out what the intruder hoped to find." Larsa once again examined the man standing before him. Basch wore his brother's name and responsibilities. The young Emperor knew well that 'reconnaissance units' were nothing else but spies. It was good to see the new Judge Magister tried to grow into his new role, good yet unsettling at the same time. Whenever he looked at the man, he could not help seeing his deceased brother.
"Furthermore I have taken the liberty to ask some of our contacts for their assistance." Larsa smiled. Wise move, he thought. If they can not find out what is going on in the underworld, nobody can. "Very well." To Gabranth's relief, the Emperor sounded satisfied, even though the Judge himself felt he was clutching at straws. There was absolutely nothing solid for him to work with on this case. Also he was uncomfortable sending out his 'spies'. This kind of work was new to him, and if he had a choice, he would rather lead an army once again. But these were the workings of Archades and the burden he took when he accepted his brother's role, and he would not disgrace Noah's memory by failure.