The memory-vial led them to the decaying Veridian Grand Library. The backup was not a physical ledger, but a data-ghost stored in the defunct mainframe—a "ghost in the machine."
While Raguel worked on interfacing with the ancient technology using his Abyss-touched senses as a conduit, Cassiathon and Lilithiel stood guard in the dusty silence.
"You never told us about Seraphiel," Cassiathon said, not looking at Lilithiel.
"What is there to tell? He saw the system and sought to own it. I saw it and found it wanting. We both Fell, but for opposite reasons. He built an empire. I… hid."
"And now his empire is tangling with our jailer."
"Yes. And we are the rope in their tug-of-war."
Raguel hissed in pain, a trickle of blood coming from his ear as raw data-streams from the machine. "I've got it! It's… fragmented. But it's there. Transactions, soul-trades, shipments to a site called 'The Anvil'…"
He projected shaky holograms: manifests listing thousands of souls, including their own names with codes next to them. Not debt amounts, but codes like A-X-7: Asset (Hunter Class).
Then, a fragmented video log appeared. It showed Razamon, speaking to someone off-screen. "...the Hunter Trio shows promise. Cassiathon's lineage provides resilience, the Fallen's residual light is a unique tool, and the Depthcaller's navigation is invaluable. Once they retrieve the Bloodthorn ledger and eliminate the loose ends, we can proceed with full assimilation at the Forge. They will be perfect retainers."
The log fizzed out. The truth was now undeniable, visceral. They were livestock being fattened, tools being sharpened for permanent service.
The library's silence was shattered by the sound of shattering stained glass. Moon-bladed assassins rappelled down from the ceiling. Sariodeus's voice echoed from loudspeakers.
"Really, the library? So dreadfully literal. Hand over the data-core, and your end will be quick."
They were trapped, with the proof in their hands and the enemy at the gates.