Threads 366-Depths 1

“There is further infiltration than we were aware of.” Cao Chun’s voice was grim. Seated behind his desk, he folded his hands under his chin.

“How much so?” Jin Tae asked. He stood in the office with them this time. A silver mirror hung on his belt. A weapon, Ling Qi thought. Not his domain weapon, but a potent talisman all the same. His spirit was rippling water and shimmering glass under her new gaze, reflecting back her own distorted face from a hundred angles.

“I have detected traces in over fifty percent of our construction force and twenty percent of embassy staff. It has taken immense effort for me to inspect and uncover further taint nondestructively,” Cao Chun replied.

Jin Tae’s eyes widened, and he sucked in a breath. So did Ling Qi. Only Zheng Fu’s own grim expression stayed fixed behind his headwrap.

The big man beside her crossed his arms. “Huh. That’s catastrophic. You ain’t talking about them all being infested like those two more guys though, right?”

“I am not,” Cao Chun said sourly. “Calm yourselves. The great majority only held traces of being touched by the subject’s qi. It’s either a decoy mechanism or, I think more likely, showing mere signs of being a tool of transmission.”

“There are only so many of those thought parasites,” Ling Qi concluded. “They are extremely complex. Even a sixth realm master crafter could only produce and stockpile so many. They can move from victim to victim prior to their activation though.”

“Yes. I have only discovered three more in my investigation. All are neutralized.” Cao Chun then briefly grimaced. “One of those foreign crow creatures has informed me that their own investigation has uncovered two.”

Ling Qi smiled at him. Cao Chun narrowed his eyes at her, mustache twitching.

“It seems that we are making good progress then, teacher,” Jin Tae said. “What of the culprit?”

“I have refined my understanding of their qi, even though all targets required immediate destruction. It is my opinion that the culprit is mostly likely of the Meng clan, though not of a recognized name. The signs of the underground beasts are mere chaff to throw off our scent.”

Ling Qi frowned deeply. Having one of the major clans engaged in such a scandal would be a serious blow to the stability of negotiations. “Are you certain? Wouldn’t such a high figure among the Meng be one of their elders? Or at least one with access to truly secret stockpiles?”

“Hah!” Zheng Fu laughed. “We don’t show off all our oldsters; I expect your clans ain’t any different. Plenty of Ways don’t make themselves big and public.”

“It is as he says, baroness,” Jin Tae said. “The Meng report their number of cultivators as any clan does, but no ruler has been so tyrannical as to demand an exhaustive listing of Way names.”

Of course. She should have expected that.

“Regardless, I have tracked further possibilities,” Cao Chun said. “Baroness, can your ability be used again?”

“There is a limit. I can only handle such a feat maybe once a day. It is mentally and spiritually strenuous.”

“We are limited then,” Cao Chun said. “I have three likely hosts: the astronomer from Xiamen, the White Plume Sergeant Xia Lin, and the Bai retainer, Xia Anxi. Infrastructure, military, and diplomatic vectors.”

“Astronomer Wu is a realm above me. I am not certain I could use the ability effectively against him,” Ling Qi said warily.

“I have procured a talisman which will make up the difference for a time, if your ability is a manner of liminal stealth,” Cao Chun replied immediately. “But if you are not confident, take another target. I have observed that these parasite constructs hold varying levels of information. One invested in more important sabotage may be more useful. I will give you the choice of targets.”

“And the others?”

“Now that I’ve gotten a look, I think I might be able to do something. Can’t snatch it like you, but I could glean some information if I know what I’m looking at as I dig it out,” Zheng Fu said.

“And I will simply eliminate the last parasite,” Cao Chun said. “Which target, baroness?”

Ling Qi mulled over it for a time. There were so many considerations that it was really difficult to find what would be the right answer here.

“I think,” Ling Qi decided, “of all these, Bai Xia Anxi is my best choice of target.”

“I see. Would you explain your logic?” Cao Chun peered at her past his steepled fingers.

“As far as we have determined, the main effect of the parasite is inducing a state of heightened agitation and paranoia, correct?”

“That is the simplest effect. There is some measure of mental trigger implantation, but it does not seem able to fully override the host, only induce an action they might take in an impaired state of mind.”

“So makes ’em act like a rowdy drunk with a persecution complex then?” Zheng Fu asked.

Cao Chun grimaced at him. “Somewhat. However, I am concerned that the parasite may be capable of overcharging itself to induce worse effects, as your target attempted to do in the last operation.”

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Zheng Fu’s expression went flat. “Yeah, s’pose so. That’s why I’m probably only gonna get limited information.”

Cao Chun gave him a gimlet look. “Indeed.”

Jin tae coughed into his hand. “Baroness Ling, your thoughts?”

“Firstly, the politics of this. I am the only one here with a good enough relationship with the Bai clan to receive leeway if my attempt is noticed. In fact, I may simply be able to speak with Bai Meizhen directly about permission to conduct the investigation. Has she been touched by this infiltration?”

“The young White Serpent is clean. There is no taint on her that I have found. I doubt she would be so forgiving as all that. The Bai—”

“She will trust me,” Ling Qi interrupted.

She felt sorry for Xia Anxi, and she would do her best to snoop as little as possible when retrieving the target. For the victim themselves, speaking to them personally about the parasite would almost certainly trigger an adverse reaction.

“Very well. Let us say that I believe this,” Cao Chun allowed. “Keeping the Bai from establishing another grudge is… Ah. I see.”’