"Well," Neo started to speak again, but in his native Briton-like accent. While Neo intended such switch of accent as a sign of mocking the two fae's direct declaration that he was himself vainglorious, by adopting an accent that people usually think of as erudite and aristocratic, he also was subtly targeting their national heritage. They were Irish fae after all, and Britain has a chaotic history with Ireland in which the after-effects permeated until the modern times. "I, an alchemist, rely on empiricism, rationalism, and philosophy to explore my field of knowledge. Therefore, you can say I am well-versed in alchemy, the magical art that deals with physical matter, and how it relates with magical energies. However, despite alchemy being a centuries-old area of knowledge, it would be too foolish of me to say that we alchemists are omnipotent, as much as we would like to be. Therefore, even if you are more capable than me, when I make a statement about you overestimating your own abilities, it isn't pride, it is fact. Quod erat demonstratum, I say."<br/><br/>The last statement was intended to sound pretentious and played up to the stereotypical mannerisms the British, as another jab to the two fae. Nevertheless, as much his reply was to throw back what Aderyn and Islwyn said to him, he didn't mind it much. After all, he did start it out with an idle statement, so felt has if he had no right to put weight in it. He simply puffed smoke after his reply, along with a satisfied smile that made him nod to himself.<br/><br/>Rattus, on the other hand, answered Islwyn's concern about the next step they will take after knowing the layout of the Old Facility. Specifically, he was questioning of what will Rattus do after they knew what was inside the Facility's courtyard, and if he will step aside and let the others do the physical work. For someone like him who came from the Prussian nobility and enthusiastically served his nation's army in its many times of war, such question was a low-key insult. Yet his annoyance did not show on his facial expression, tone, or even body language. He kept his posture, so much that it was impossible to tell what he felt at all.<br/><br/>He began to explain. "Indeed, information is a good start. Or it is the foundation of planning, more appropriately. After the aerial reconnaissance has been executed to completion and we have clear picture of the place of interest, we will determine via consensus and discussion about the key points of the Old Nuclear Research Facility, its potential points of infiltration, the quantity  and quality of resistance we will be expecting, as well as how we will neutralize said opposition. But since the aerial reconnaissance only determines the external features of the target area, we have a total lack of information regarding the internal layout of each building. Thus, it is imperative for me to join the others in the infiltration, as well as any personnel here with martial experience, as well as technological expertise, since we are, after all, planning to enter an area with complex equipment of unknown nature."<br/><br/>Islwyn's hypothesis about why the energies from the Old Facility was radiative attracted a question from Clarence. "Well, what you said is likely after all, but how about the missing people? The people who were found dead and the people missing aren't one and the same, so what about them?"<br/><br/>"I could vouch for the dead. They were sustenance for us, as well as for the other lowlier creatures that still were higher than the humans," Raven intervened and answered. "But I can't say the same for the disappeared. Why should I bother hiding the remains of the cattle?"<br/><br/>Raven's nonchalant confession sent chills down the spine of the human mages of the Temple, some of them having their eyes widened. She, in turned, looked at them and projected an aura that told them that she was not, in any way, sorry for what she did. "W-what the fuck?!" Eddie reacted with surprised terror.<br/><br/>Heather, in contrast to the other mages, was silently angry with her eyes wide open, as her breathing became deeper and she was clenching her fists. She then exploded, as she pointed her finger defiantly to Raven and screaming, "I swear to God, if I see Robert and Kate dead there, you're gonna get it! I'll destroy you, I swear!" She was at the verge of tears.<br/><br/>"Oh, little human mage," Raven said, clearly patronizing in her tone. "I might not have been the best fighter of my kind, but I bet that you will stand little chance against me. Your threats are empty."<br/><br/>"I don't care!" She was about to charge her, but she was held back by other mages. "It doesn't matter what happens! I'll make sure that pride of yours is going to get hurt! You're gonna get it!"<br/><br/>"You are welcome to try only after this case is resolved," The vampire replied coldly. "After all, you have yet to see if they're dead, right?"<br/><br/>"Hiza-san, she is right. P-please calm yourself," Yukina was deeply afraid as she tried to calm down the rightfully enraged mage woman, but also massively concerned. She knew that if they fought amongst themselves, the case will not be resolved. However, she also knew that Heather was terrified about the fate of her loved ones. Moreover, she how such loss felt due to circumstances beyond one's control, as being an immortal seemed to mandate. "I know that you are afraid that your friends are dead, but please clear your head for now. We do not know if they are dead yet, so there is hope to see them alive."<br/><br/>"You don't understand, Yukina," Heather was visibly crying, her voice shaky. "Robert and I, we survived that encounter when we were kids, when Neo first came here and helped us... He's my high school sweetheart, damn it!"<br/><br/>"Miss, please calm down for now," Senator Madison intervened. "My grandson's been missing too, you know?" The old man became downcast upon those words and sat down, as weakness seemed to get hold of his body.<br/><br/>"You mean Brandon Madison, Senator?" Clarence was surprised by the revelation. "But we didn't know about this."<br/><br/>"I'm sorry. I didn't want the public to know. I asked the FBI not to spill it to the media, and they didn't," he replied. "But we do know that he was taken here in this city, we just don't know how and who. They're still looking for him until today."<br/><br/>"Then, I assure you, Senator. I did not feed upon your grandchild," Raven said. "There is nothing much to be devoured from them. They are worthless as sustenance for us. If you do find him lifeless, then it is the other creatures who did it. We are not that desperate to help ourselves upon little morsels like that."<br/><br/>"So that's why I'm sticking my nose in this case. I want Brandon back. My son's been looking for his son too, you know?" He looked at the rest, and told them, "That kid's a joy to my family and I'm going to get him back, and the Lord knows I'll do it even if it means I have to punch Satan on the face." The declaration stunned the mages in the temple, with various reactions from them. Over all, they couldn't quite believe that an old politician, who they usually regard as someone who is ignorant and even selfish, was about to state something. They knew that politicians make bombastic speeches all the time, but they didn't know that the Senator did have a personal reason for staying in the Temple, even if he didn't seemingly have one. But they were proven wrong, thus they had hard time processing the sincerity of his statement. "And besides, I did say that even Federal agents and police officers were missing and we have yet to find even their bodies, so I might as well as take this case by the horns myself."<br/><br/>"It still doesn't explain why such powerful energy is left radiating from that place," Beth said, trying to get back to the main question. "If it was not deliberate, then why wasn't it contained and sealed off when creatures were first attracted to it. But if was deliberate, then why isn't anyone from the missing persons list been found yet, but any bodies found are not from the list?"<br/><br/>"Well, since Raven here did say that she and the other creatures ate them and just dumped the bodies, then we can probably say that the missing are being taken away to that Facility." Andy finally spoke up after a long silence. "After all, Neo did tell me that not everyone can feel that energy, only anyone who's trained or gifted with magic. Since vampires and fae are being attracted to it too, we can say that maybe the guys who heard the news about the free drinks came to the bar, and the ones who didn't were dragged to it."<br/><br/>"Tha' shit righ' der says it," Neo said in agreement to Andy. "Now, 'ere's the fuckin' question: Who da hell iz dat nigga who's draggin' any mo'fuckin' bum he com' across to t'at bar?!"<br/><br/>Rattus simply observed the discussion and the speculations they produced, and went back to Islwyn. "As for the firearm, do not worry about the price. Since this is a situation of highly critical nature, the firearm you will given will be free of charge. Just describe what kind of firearm do you want me to procure, and if you have limited knowledge about them, then we can discuss this further right at this moment."