Chapter 147

  Hierarchy was present at almost every step and way in this world. It included the Federation much more than Outside, as the common people weren't some rats or ants but they did resemble some of their perks.

  Darks also had their societies, but people weren't thinking about that. Walkers had to, and that was weird from what William knew of Federation-related camps and his life.

  Kaufman personally didn't give a crap about any of that. He was here as a powerful Walker watching over the common society he was part of for almost a century. He saw William as one of his kin, albeit it wasn't a fitting choice at all because some actions had rules and habits beneath respect and knowledge.

  Even if this boy hadn't been taught about the System or rousing ways of Rank 0, he was still a young Walker who was bound to learn and develop. That came to mind, so he should have many question marks inside his heart, or hand. His history was as curious as the rest, and it was a handful distance away, waiting and thundering in surprising noises of reason and beats.

  It was the close and distant future that was the biggest question mark, which was half the reason for this second meeting. It could've happened much sooner if it weren't for Ellie's and William's time on the lower floors.

  Dealing with such people wasn't feeling pleasant, which William knew and accepted with patience, rather than with anger or fear. Dann said it was better to find firm ground in understanding than in arguments, yet emotions and some talks could become hard and fickle like wind anywhere. William stood his ground against this hegemon, yet how long could it last?

  William had been shuddering in some insights and was grateful for that card, but that was about it. There was a limit to grace and greed, while something pushy about it was more annoying. He thought he made his stance firm when they first met, so this meeting was strange.

  Kaufman was here regardless.

  There were no doubts this Walker had the strongest and most potent ideals of their hierarchy. That should be an unfamiliar concept for William, but he could accept it, adapt to it, and grow like one.

  In time.

  For the time being, Kaufman had different ideas and reconsidered his thought processes. Then, he decided to change his little visit, curling his lips into a smile, and knowing this was nothing but a mere test of interest. Perhaps others would do the same thing sooner or later since this was the sort of thing many loved to do.

  And not many knew what Mi-Yung had started or that William was here. It was also entirely possible that Yondu was part of this, and that fact could soon involve everyone or even other Upper Pillars.

  But Kaufman wanted to do it first. It wasn't some childish though, as he felt awkward after seeing what was William like. It wasn't as if he could back away or refute his own words and acts. He was too old for this shit.

  “Hmph! You are good. Good. One needs to grow up to become a qualified Walker, boy. Having some wit and a firm heart is a good beginning. I hope the lower floors were to your satisfaction, so what they had done to you, hm? To someone like you, who grew up without knowing about the world, their merits might be bigger than for those with silver spoons sticking out of their noses. Well, they sound even more unnecessary than wooden spoons. Some families are just way too damn stubborn.”

  It was a strange analogy that William couldn't understand. Spoons? Nose?

  “I grew up quite well, sir. Some could call it terrible, sure, but I call it emotional and kind of normal since I saw the world for what it is. I am also alive, if you haven't noticed. That's good as far as people and Walkers go.” William said with a smile on his face.

  He learned great ways to speak up to seniors, thanks to Dann's other lessons, and Ellie kind of tricked them and turned them into something else, or upside down. Either way, neither of them was a bad idea because William wasn't one to be sad about his life. What would be the point of that? It might as well be a door to more sadness or drowning.

  That he never planned, but it constantly happened.

  “You surely did grow up to be alive. Yes. Yes. Yes! I can see that. Outside is Outside and Federation is like a flower in comparison, though people aren't flowers, is that right? This place is no garden of Eden either, or that different from some camp. Walkers are even more distant, like politicians hiding in their nests. You are bound to walk through a gate and door with no return ticket. My card is a component of your engine. Maybe calling it a pre-order isn't wrong as well, huh?” Kaufman muttered and showed his Emblem as he stroked his chin.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Engraved and living in his flesh, it was swaying in colors of white and flowing in the same patterns as before, showing white streams of countless depths. William had seen it in that room and it left no abrupt impression.

  “Why are you here?” William asked straight to the point and had good reason to be concerned. Was he here to take back that card, or was he here to speak of that offer with something new?

  From what he could gather, Walkers were busy in recent days, so why was this old man like this? Waiting for two days sitting on the floor sounded like a joke. Especially when open rumors surged around the streets, making even Ellie interested. Crazy fights beyond the Federation took place in the sky. Soon, they were impossible to conceal and the public uncovered terrific forces and battles happening day and night.

  “Are you here for something? Protection, perhaps? Those... Rifts?” William could tell that nothing good would come from someone sane enough to spend time like this. He assumed it from his own experience, but at some times, he wished to sleep rather than think.

  “Why? I wonder what you assume is my position and why I am here. Why won't you pick your proper guesses and I will think of them next?” Kaufman asked as he caressed his thinly trimmed beard.

  William didn't have to ponder too long in the unknown, because with Ellie, a lot of matters cleared up and he could tell his mind was more vigilant. Or was the heat why? Was the stirring storm hiding under his sleeve a problem? So far, Kaufman hadn't spoken a word about his parent, and he better stay that way.

  “You are a Walker keen on history and the Federation. At least in the past, it was like that. I hadn't known you one bit before. It was our first meeting. Since then, Ellie told me you are one of the founders of this place and main developer of this library. Your daughter is taking care of it right now.”

  “I suppose she does. Who else would?” Kaufman laughed and let William continue.

  “How sky-high you are as a Walker is questionable like your history that very few know or understand. I don't know that. Other weird answers can be obvious and I look at them from different angles. You are here to take your card back and bother me because I am rejecting you. That's what kind of person I think you are. Is it correct?” William, more than anything, assumed his ideas out loud. He remembered her words. She wouldn't lie to him, right?

  Kaufman kept looking at William and pretended nothing bad was happening, or would happen.

  “Someone had a loose tongue, I suppose?” he said, glancing at Ellie, who embarrassingly looked away as if this discussion was none of her concern. It wasn't because she was doing her duty and what this old fool wanted was up to other people; not her.

  For example, wasn't this meeting kind of ridiculous? How come it was rational, or how come he was already here for two days without arousing suspicions or awareness of Heidi Kaufman and various protectors? Did others even know he was here? If not, no one heard about him up until now, Ellie apprehended that as a total bullshit. Kaufman must've lied about two days.

  “Sure. I am all of that and above. History is wild and humans are incredible and old, yet like youths in front of Mother Nature, some topics are better not to be underestimated. Floors do that. Some floors should be more than informative to someone like you, while some wouldn't be much help. The worse are bullshit or useless. No. That's wrong and subjective because someone else would love it. Hence the restrictions, which the Federation didn't want to acknowledge and made public. Freaks. I say they are fools. There is something about the Federation that has grown out of me and this library used to be mine for my purpose. Now, it isn't like that, which is fine. The world and people had changed. Now, Walkers are leading it with greater force than ever. It is a tad bit difficult topic for this old me, wouldn't you say?”

  “How am I supposed to know what do you think? Aren't you.... retired?” William almost said the wrong syllables, uttering a question that wouldn't be fine. Kaufman was definitely not retarded.

  “Hardly. Retiring is... difficult in today's world. Especially for someone like me and at this ega. Walkers aren't about that, you see.”

  “Then who are you?” William forced a rather sensitive topic into this tense atmosphere.

  “Who?” Kaufman wondered it himself and walked onward to lean on the railing. Glancing down had its charm, similar to the front where those massive windows showed great colors and art. Above were some rare windows, enunciating architecture, or natural light. His hat almost fell off his head. “I am trying to redeem something and see the new dawn.”

  “Dawn?”

  “Walkers hope for eradication of this age and the beginning of something new. What is it? I have no exact idea, but in history, there was something pretty with utter destruction and rebirth. They called it cleansing. Idiots. Something could come out of it like a phoenix out of ash, but this idea has been around forever. I am sure you know about it.”

  “Maybe not.”

  “So what? There were great disasters like floods, earthquakes, and so on, yet humans haven't lost everything. Sometimes, they weren't there at all as we are spread like ants. Before any society, this planet was still here, filled with life and deep oceans and mountains and forests. We are just more clever animals in a rather archaic food chain of history that grew up a tad bit more than the previous ones. By the way, some forms of history proved there might've been a number of high societies through the eras lost in time. They were either forgotten, or completely dedicated by themselves, others, or by nature, they couldn't last enough to grow past their shells. Now, where is the current humanity?” Kaufman wondered, humming and spreading his arms around the huge entrance room.

  “Catastrophe? You speak the same thing that many rebels think. A New Dawn won't happen and destruction has already happened, so what is this about? Rebuilding will take more than a few decades or centuries. Perhaps it won't ever happen because there is no fixing that is beyond repair. Darks are that sort of thing.”

  “Oh, aren't you a bit pessimistic?”

  “It's called being realistic boy brought from pain and blood. I think... I read about it more,” William said with some difficulty and turned his head down and scratched his head. “I dunno, alright. You speak of ends and hopes as if they are foreign but we always live and do it one way or another. It is just a different way of living. At least there are... no. I take it back.”

  “Surely not, wouldn't you say it makes sense, little girl?” Kaufman gave Ellie another look.