Pop quiz Session! Question One: Who wants me to create Somebodies for the Nobodies from Rank 9 to 12? If you want this, just give me the way their names before Organization 13 would've been.
Question Two: Does anyone else have suggestions for FF characters to bring in? The offer still stands. As usual, if the character is from a spin-off or sequel to a game, I need a brief rundown on them so I can look them up.
Question Three: Anybody want me to bring in Oswald the Lucky Rabbit? I don't a lot of explanation why, just a yes or no will do.
Now that that's out of the way, I hope you enjoy the chapter.
I own nothing of Kingdom Hearts except for my OCs.
Read, review, but no flames.
Video Surveillance: Study – Record 065
Ever since being alerted to a new stream of disappearances, Ansem couldn't help but feel uneasy about these disturbing events. Though he ceased his experiments with one of his apprentices, it seemed as though something is upsetting the peace within the kingdom. But what could be happening that he didn't know about?
Fortunately, he was able to arrange a private meeting with Professor Shantotto with the intention to figure out the pattern between these strings of vanishing citizens. Because she has been exploring the city more often than he has, it's only fair that he requires her input on matters outside the castle walls and learn what she knows. Of all the residents in the castle, the professor was one of the select few people he puts his absolute trust into when he has more caution on others; after all, without her knowledge and wisdom, Radiant Garden wouldn't have been much better than it was.
But then his thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock on the door. That warned him that his intended guest had finally arrived, but just to be sure…
"Is that you, Professor?" he asked cautiously.
"Of course it is, if that is what you are wondering," the professor replied as she opened the door, "You thought I was one of your apprentices, is that what you were pondering? But let's spare ourselves the formalities and cut to the chase, and the best place to go on the investigation is to start at first base."
"Right then, let's have a look at the map and the data you've accumulated from the start," Ansem agreed.
From there, Shantotto pulled out a map from her satchel and a small chunk of papers (most likely written data she took note of during her investigations. Ansem watched as she reviewed her papers and used her magic to mark multiple points within the city; it made him speculate that the marks are the locations where the disappearances occurred.
"Now then, let's begin with a little rundown: these past days, there has been a vanishing spree going on within town," Shantotto began her explanation, "Numbers of citizens have disappeared without prejudice and with no signs of a fight, which has made these disappearances become a hazardous blight. There's no doubt the question is who the culprit is, but the main question is the motive behind the suspect's sadistic biz. If this matter is left overlooked, then the increasing panic is going to do nothing but make us unnecessarily booked. The places I have marked are where I've investigated the scene of the crime, and let me tell you that trying to search for clues has been naught but a waste of my precious time."
"I understand you're quite upset at this, Professor, but sometimes a thorough investigation has to be done in order to know the truth," Ansem replied to her, "But I will agree that things will get out of hand if we do not find the culprits behind these disappearances, and that we must find out the motives behind the crime. What do you suggest we do about the matter, Professor? Where do think we should start?"
"If I can offer one word of advice at all, I'd highly recommend you search within the castle walls," the professor advised, "Watch your apprentices to the best of your efforts - but do so with the utmost care. Find out where they go and what they do, if that's not too much for your mind to bear. But I must strongly warn you to be careful in this dangerous game, because there might be some people with a dark beast that can be too devilish to tame."
Ansem nodded in agreement. "I see…Then I'll do that. What about you? Do you intend to keep searching through the town for any more clues?"
"If that is the only course, then I have no other option but to comply," the professor replied as she finished sorting her reports, "One way or another, I'll have those guilty villains so scared that they would want to fly."
"Just do me a favor, and don't try to roast anyone with your magic in the process," Ansem requested.
Shantotto narrowed her eyes at him before she replied, "I cannot make any promises if the culprits can fight, but I can guarantee that I know how to give them a serious fright."
Upon hearing that, Ansem suspected that she was going to reply that way. Besides her intelligence, she has an intimidation factor that would scare anyone who dares to oppose her. It did make him wish that she would at least have a little more self-control with that temper she has (because even when she sounds tranquil in her speech, anyone with keen hearing would pick up how angry she can actually get).
When she left to handle her tasks, he was alone again in the study, thinking over the discussion they had. He knew that if he wanted to prevent the garden from slipping into panic, he would have to find the source of the chaos stirring from wherever its hive may be. However, how can he find any clues within the castle? For that matter, when was the last time he saw any of his apprentices?
But then…now he thought back on her advice, he didn't think about delving into the whereabouts of his apprentices for quite a while. In retrospect, he had ceased his experiments when he could get nothing out of Xehanort, and he was certain that any interest in the project had completely faded away. So, if that was the case, then what were they doing after the cancellation of the experiments? He hadn't even bothered trying to figure that out because he had enough problems before – what with that incident when Xehanort visited the infirmary when he wasn't supposed to, suspicions against Vayne and the developing strange behaviors in Ienzo as of late. Could all these incidents have some sort of connection?
There was only one way he could find out: he would have to watch everyone very closely if he was to pick up anything worth noting.