Chapter 6 : Researchers
"I apologize for this, Mr. Kaiba," Arisa quickly stated as I entered my office and tossed my trenchcoat onto the nearby couch, "but when I noticed this during my last check, I figured it would be good to show you as soon as possible."
Noticing the papers in her hands, I walked toward her and took the papers, sitting down in my chair before setting them on the center of the desk. "When did you do this check?" I questioned as my eyes scanned the paper. What the hell did this mean?
"Around five thirty," she answered. "I printed it out and waited until seven to do another check, noticing another rise and printing that out as well. The paper you're looking at now was from five thirty; the one beneath it is from seven. I did a scan of everything you ordered me to check and printed that out as well, even if there wasn't anything unusual in those stats."
I slowly picked the top paper up and read through it, glaring slightly at the data shown. Being the Blood Jewel in these times was a dangerous thing, not just because of the advanced weaponry the hunters had but because of the attention and ways of getting it. The internet was heaven for me during the day at work; it was my worst nightmare at night. If I made one screw-up, it would be all over the internet within a week, and I would be hunted by every organization, religious or otherwise. Death would come before I even had a chance to explain myself to the ignorant public, and before it swooped down to end my unlife, I would be answering to my brother, my company, and everyone who ever knew my name. So, being intelligent, I took action against this.
Arisa's job on the outside was being my personal secretary, which she was good at. What she was better at was collecting data…and that included hacking and other illegal ways. Taking this into consideration, along with her knowledge of the vampiric world, I hired her to monitor online searches, websites, and anything that may relate to the vampiric world. Most of it was pointless fanfiction, shows, movies, novels, and even several churches based on 'vampire doctrine'. This was all thrown out as rubbish…and what was left was a sea of underground vampire societies, vampire hunter organizations, and anything else that only a true hacker would even be able to track let alone enter. One particular website I kept track of was an archive of actual files, books, diaries, and documents based on past Blood Jewels. I located the owner of this website and made sure he knew I was keeping tabs on him, and his excuse didn't help to clear things up. I don't know why he created the website, but as long as only he and I had access to it, things were fine.
Along with being a secretary, Arisa's second job was to keep an eye on all of these underground websites, making sure not more than the usual amount of visitors paid attention to them. Whenever a sudden spike of visitors hit a specific website, I would get a hold of the owner and discuss what was going on. Some websites I have gone so far as to shut down because too many people were reading it. I had to be that way… Paranoia was only paranoia when it was false. The threat of knowledge to the ignorant public was real.
And now, given from what the paper read, someone was trying to access the archive website. Only a good hacker could have even found it, and it showed the user entering it 58 times. Looking at the links searched through, I found that only three links had been clicked on, yet all were checked at different times more than once, amounting to a staggering total. I set the paper down and looked at the other paper. It was only this particular website, and the total an hour and a half later was 62 times. No other website saw a jump in visitors like this.
What did this mean? Was someone trying to gain access to information on the past Blood Jewels? Why would they? Only someone who knew of my existence, the existence of vampires in general, or the existence of the Blood Jewel would be interested, and I worked damn hard to make sure those were extremely few and far between. So what the hell did this mean? The only person who really knew of my existence was Uebana, but…why would he want this information?
"You look like you could use some," Arisa suddenly said. I quickly glanced up and let a small smile grace my lips as she set a cup of blood down on the desk. "I know you don't like to sleep, but you look like you were just hit by a truck."
"Well, this information doesn't sit very well with me," I admitted, taking the cup in my hands and sipping the synthetic goodness. "I wasn't expecting something like this, and I thank you for calling me."
"I understand, but I meant that you look just tired out. Physically, not mentally."
Frowning at this, I asked, "How do I look tired?"
"Maybe it's because you haven't drunk your blood yet, but there are some bags under your eyes. I don't know…you just look exhausted."
"You always know how I feel," I whispered. She smiled and merely shrugged her shoulders.
"It's just something you pick up when you hang around someone all the time."
"So I see…"
"But what do you think this means?" she asked, nodding in the direction of the papers on my desk. I sipped more of the blood and set the cup down before leaning back in my chair.
"It means someone knows too much information," I stated. "Obviously someone wants information on past Blood Jewels. The only problems are that we don't know who or why they're doing it."
"Would it be someone looking for you? Are they trying to track the title down to who is currently holding it?"
"Perhaps, though I don't think that's quite it. I think this person is more doing…research. Not for a killing, either. Just…research."
"Well maybe it's—" Arisa was cut off by a sudden ringing, and I frowned before reaching out and picking up the phone.
"This is Kaiba," I answered, using my cold tone. Now who the fuck was calling me?
"Ah, Mr. Kaiba, am I interrupting anything important right now?" a mocking voice questioned, making me growl.
"Uebana, what the fuck do you want? It's a little early to be calling me, isn't it? I haven't killed any of your soldiers yet, and you're already annoying me with your useless phone call."
"Well, if that wasn't rude, I don't know what is," he countered. "I was just wondering why you weren't out tonight. None of my soldiers seem to be able to track you right now… I was honestly worried you had died on me. That wouldn't be fun at all."
"I would never just die on you, Uebana. And just because I'm not out for one lousy night doesn't mean you can stalk me. Didn't you just tell me that you were lowering the watch anyways? Being a little hypocritical, aren't you?"
"Not at all. I was just curious to see what you were doing. I now know you are at work and can send my soldiers your way."
"Sorry, but I'm actually not in the mood to bash a person's skull in. In fact, your phone call may not be all that useless."
"Oh, am I hearing a hint of politeness in Mr. Kaiba's voice? What special occasion calls for this sudden change?"
I growled a second time and tightened my grip on the phone. I felt my fangs beginning to form and decided to let it go. "I want to know what the fuck you're doing researching past Blood Jewels." It had to be him; he was the only one I knew that was aware of my condition.
"Research? What on Earth are you talking about?"
"Don't play fucken stupid with me. I know you're conducting research on past Blood Jewels. I have the papers right in front of me."
"I honestly don't know what you're rambling on about. I know everything about the past Blood Jewels; why would I have to research them even more? I'm afraid your information may be a little off."
My eyes narrowed at this. If it wasn't him…who was it? "Do you have any idea who this would be? It would be good of you to tell me if you know; this knowledge is just as vital to you as it is to me. If they find out about the Blood Jewel, then they know all vampires linked to it. God forbid anything would happen to you."
"You just are the poster-boy for sarcasm, aren't you? But no, I don't know who would be conducting such research. Perhaps a rabid wannabe-vampire is doing some research. You know how Goth kids are these days, thinking our state of being is something to treasure. Or maybe a lost Knight is researching for his or her personal needs?"
A lost Knight? Oh fuck…
"That's all I can come up with. I don't like helping you out, but I see your reasoning. I can't let anybody know of what should be mine."
I wanted to react to his comment, but I couldn't. A lost Knight…a Knight…
"Mr. Kaiba?"
"Well, you still aren't the Blood Jewel, and you shouldn't count on ever being in such a high position. Thank you for the information, and now I'm going to hang up and hope that none of your fucking lackeys come and attack me. I think we both need a night off."
"We shall see, Mr. Kaiba. We shall see. Other than that, happy to help you. Good evening." Slamming the phone down, I groaned and slowly grabbed my cup. Vampire politics were the worst. It was a hypocritical game of survival. On one hand, we fought each other for power, status, and wealth. On the other hand, we huddled together like orphans out of fear of unwanted attention and the idea of our existence being discovered by the general population. It made no sense…but it was the way it worked.
Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I rolled my head over and closed my eyes. "See, you are tired, aren't you?" Arisa asked, leaning forward and smiling at me, her face merely inches away from mine.
"Maybe…"
"'Maybe'? Maybe you're full of shit."
I chuckled and shook my head. "Whatever. No matter how tired I get, I will never sleep."
"Was that Uebana Kance?"
"Yes."
"And what did he say about the research?"
"He claims he knows absolutely nothing about what I told him. I don't want to believe what he concluded, but I have a feeling he's correct."
"Who did he say it was then?"
A lost Knight… Shaking my head, I let out a long sigh. "Let me just call the owner of the website to get the name of this person. I told him he has to record everybody who enters his website. He knows how underground it is; he better fucking know who is hacking into it." Grasping the phone once more, I began dialing the number. "I'll give the information to you tomorrow so that you can research who this person is. You're free to go if you want. It's rather late now…" Placing the phone to my ear, I waited patiently as it began connecting.
Instead of walking out, she shook her head, sat down on the edge of the desk, and smiled down at me. "It's okay. I'll stay."
Frowning, I went to say something when I heard the line go through. "Hello, who is this?" a rather tired, male voice asked.
"This is Seto Kaiba," I answered coldly.
"M-M-Mr. Kaiba?" he asked, his voice going up an octave in fear, making me chuckle. "H-How are you doing, Mr.—"
"I didn't call you for small talk," I interrupted. "I have several reports sitting in front of me right now that read a new viewer has been accessing your website at an alarming rate. You know I have the power to shut it down if I see fit, and right now I'm feeling the urge to do so unless you tell me who the hell this person is."
"J-J-Just a second, Mr. Kaiba," the man replied, and I could hear him running around over the phone. "L-Let me log on and check. I didn't pick up on anyone, so it must have been a hacker."
"No shit," I countered. "I would never have allowed your website to run publically, you fool. Now get me that name."
"Y-Yes sir." I heard the sound of typing in the background and pinched the bridge of my nose. People were really so stupid these days. If he couldn't come up with the screen name in the next ten minutes, I concluded, I would shut down his website. It was just too dangerous; I probably should have shut it down in the first place. But there was so much involved with that, including legal terms and other nonsense I just didn't have time for these nights. "I'm tracing the screen name now, Sir, and I see the staggering number. It should have read on my computer, however, so I will be sure to update the system so that this never happens again."
"Be sure that it doesn't. If anyone finds out about the Blood Jewel, I'm holding you personally responsible."
"I understand, Sir. And…. Here it is!" In one quick second, I grabbed a pen and piece of paper, prepared to write the name down. "The screen name is…quite an odd one. It reads WhitexSandxArtifactsdcm. It says that they accessed the website—"
"—62 times, I know," I interrupted once more, writing the name of the e-mail address down. Who would be stupid enough to hack into a system using their e-mail address? A lost Knight…
"Actually, you must be looking at the seven thirty report. The last time it was accessed was 8:10, and that made a total of 69 times. Whoever this person is, they obviously want information."
"And information is what they aren't going to get, isn't that right?"
"T-That's right, Sir. I'll make sure to upgrade the system right now. I promise this will never happen again."
"Be sure that it doesn't, lest you want the wrath of the current Blood Jewel on your hands." Placing the phone back in its holder, I looked down at the screen name and frowned. This was too easy…but I almost didn't want it to be this easy. I had to face this, but…
"See, you're tired," Arisa suddenly stated, and I looked up to see her still smiling down at me. "Get some rest, Mr. Kaiba. It would seriously do you some good."
Sleep? Sleep never did me any good. It got be beaten under Gozaburo's 'protection', it made me get behind in work as a human, and now….it just brought back too many things as a vampire. "I'll think about it..." was all I said before standing up and handing her the screen name. "This is your first priority tomorrow morning. Figure out who the hell this person is, where they're located, anything at all."
"Yes sir," she answered, taking the slip of paper from my hand and turning to walk out of my office. I slowly followed behind her, grabbing my trenchcoat and putting it on, before I felt her hand gently touch my arm. I blinked in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
"Mr. Kaiba… What if this is that woman who came earlier?"
My eyes slowly trailed from her to the ground, not knowing what to say. "I… I don't know what I'll do," I answered. I didn't need that responsibility. Of course, Ishizu was a responsible woman in her own right, but I didn't need her kind. I didn't want her kind. I…
A lost Knight.
Maybe… But a Knight was the last thing I needed right now. Arisa's hand left my arm, and she said, "Please, Mr. Kaiba… Please get some rest." Turning, she quickly left my office and closed the door behind her, leaving me in the silence of the room. I merely stood there, my hand brushing the area she had touched me absentmindedly, before I fell on my knees and closed my eyes. She was right. I needed rest. This synthetic coffee wasn't cutting it anymore. But I… I didn't want to see that.
Growling at my weakness, I punched the floor of my office and quickly stood up. One night of rest was all I needed, maybe not even that. A few hours would do just fine. I've lived through worse. I walked out of my office, slammed the door behind me before locking it, and walked towards the elevator.