Akashic_Tales Originals
Hades, Inc.: The Billionaire God of Death's Chaotic System
Chapter 14: Gala of Souls
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The Transcendence Foundation headquarters dominated a full city block in Seoul's upscale Gangnam district. The building, a gleaming tower of glass and steel with unusual geometric patterns worked into its architecture, seemed to shimmer slightly in the evening light, as if not entirely solid.
From their vantage point in a café across the street, Haiden and Kyra observed the steady stream of Seoul's elite arriving for the gala. Limousines and luxury cars deposited guests dressed in formal attire, each greeted by white-uniformed attendants who guided them into the building.
"Security's tight," Kyra noted, adjusting the small communication device in her ear. It resembled a normal earpiece but had been enhanced by Jinx to function across supernatural frequencies. "I count eight visible guards, and those aren't standard uniforms."
"No," Haiden agreed, his eyes seeing more than just the physical. "Those are Threshold Guardians, minor supernatural entities bound to service. They appear human but can detect otherworldly energies."
Kyra touched the iron bracelet on her wrist. "Will they sense you?"
"Ordinarily, yes," Haiden replied. "But I've dampened my divine signature. To them, I'll register as nothing more unusual than a minor immortal, of which there are several in Seoul's upper echelons."
"And me?"
"You'll appear completely human, though the bracelet and Madame Hye's dress will create a slight confusion effect. They'll see you but won't focus on you unless you draw attention to yourself."
Kyra nodded, feeling both nervous and exhilarated. The midnight blue gown Madame Hye had provided fit perfectly, its star-flecked fabric subtly shifting with her movements. With her hair styled in an elegant updo and minimal jewelry, she looked every inch the sophisticated socialite, a far cry from her usual detective attire.
Haiden, for his part, wore a perfectly tailored black tuxedo that somehow made him look both classically handsome and slightly dangerous. The only unusual element was his cufflinks, small obsidian skulls that occasionally seemed to wink in the light.
"Jinx just sent the final floor plans," Haiden said, checking his phone. "The main gala is in the grand hall on the second floor, but there's a restricted area on the top level. That's likely where we'll find anything of interest."
"How do we get up there?" Kyra asked.
"First, we mingle. Establish our presence as unremarkable guests. Then find an opportunity to slip away." Haiden stood, offering his arm with old-world courtesy. "Shall we, Detective?"
Kyra took his arm, feeling a strange flutter in her stomach that had nothing to do with pre-mission nerves. "Let's crash this supernatural party."
They crossed the street and approached the entrance, joining the queue of arriving guests. When they reached the front, one of the white-uniformed attendants, a young man with eyes that were just slightly too large and pupils that reflected light like a cat's, asked for their invitation.
Haiden produced the electronic pass that Detective Park had secured, displaying it on his phone. The attendant scanned it, then paused, his inhuman eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Haiden.
"Welcome, Mr. Black," he said after a moment, his voice carrying a subtle harmonic undertone. "The Foundation is honored by your presence."
"Thank you," Haiden replied smoothly. "My companion and I are looking forward to learning more about your organization's work."
The attendant's gaze slid over Kyra, his expression momentarily confused before returning to professional courtesy. "Of course. Please, enjoy the evening."
As they entered the building's vast lobby, Kyra whispered, "He recognized you."
"Not exactly," Haiden murmured back. "He sensed something significant about me but couldn't identify what. The confusion works in our favor, they'll be watching but uncertain."
The lobby itself was a marvel of modern architecture with subtle supernatural elements. The marble floor contained patterns that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles. The lighting came from fixtures that resembled constellations, casting a warm glow that nonetheless left certain corners in shadow. And the air carried a faint scent of incense and ozone, the smell of reality being gently manipulated.
They followed the flow of guests up a grand staircase to the second floor, where the main gala was being held. The grand hall was spectacular, a vast space with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of Seoul's nighttime skyline.
Hundreds of guests mingled, sipping champagne and sampling hors d'oeuvres carried by servers in the same white uniforms as the attendants outside. A string quartet played in one corner, the music subtly enhanced to create an atmosphere of relaxed sophistication.
"Impressive," Kyra admitted, accepting a glass of champagne from a passing server but not drinking it. "They certainly know how to create an atmosphere."
"That's more literal than you might think," Haiden replied quietly. "Feel the air? There's a subtle enchantment woven through it, designed to make guests more receptive, more open to suggestion."
Now that he mentioned it, Kyra did notice a strange quality to the atmosphere, a pleasant lightheadedness that had nothing to do with alcohol or nerves.
"Will it affect us?" she asked, concerned.
"You, potentially," Haiden acknowledged. "Me, no. Divine beings are immune to most forms of mental manipulation. Stay close and focus on our objective."
They began to circulate through the crowd, maintaining the appearance of interested potential donors while observing everything. Kyra noticed that while most guests appeared to be ordinary humans, wealthy business leaders, politicians, celebrities, there were others who carried themselves differently. A woman whose shadow occasionally moved independently of her body. A man whose smile revealed teeth just slightly too sharp. A couple who seemed to shimmer faintly when they moved through patches of shadow.
"Supernatural guests?" she whispered to Haiden.
"Yes," he confirmed. "Minor immortals, mostly. Vampires from Luna's extended court. A few shapeshifters. Even a demigod or two. The supernatural elite often move in the same circles as wealthy mortals, it's convenient for maintaining their lifestyles."
"And none of them recognize you?"
"Some might sense something familiar, but I've been retired for months and was never one for socializing even before that. Most supernatural beings know of Hades but have never actually met him."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a tall, elegant woman in a white gown that seemed to glow from within. Her features were classically beautiful but somehow ageless, and her eyes, a striking violet, held wisdom and calculation in equal measure.
"Mr. Black," she greeted, her voice melodious and perfectly modulated. "What an unexpected pleasure. I don't believe we've had the honor of hosting you at one of our events before."
Haiden inclined his head politely. "Ms...?"
"Dr. Elara Voss," she supplied. "I'm the Executive Director of the Transcendence Foundation. And you are Haiden Black, CEO of Elysium Corporation. Your reputation precedes you."
"All good things, I hope," Haiden replied with a charming smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Fascinating things," Dr. Voss corrected, her gaze intensely focused on him. "Your company's work in quantum computing and consciousness research aligns remarkably well with our own interests."
She turned to Kyra, that penetrating gaze now assessing her. "And your companion?"
"Kyra Moon," Kyra introduced herself, maintaining her cover. "I consult with Elysium on special projects."
"How intriguing," Dr. Voss said, though her tone suggested she found Kyra far less interesting than Haiden. "Well, I do hope you'll both enjoy the evening. The presentation will begin in thirty minutes, I think you'll find our vision for humanity's future quite compelling."
With that, she glided away to greet other guests, leaving behind a faint scent of lilies and something metallic.
"That was the Mediator," Haiden said quietly once she was out of earshot.
Kyra nearly choked on the champagne she'd pretended to sip. "How can you be sure?"
"Her energy signature. It's... unusual. Neither fully divine nor mortal, but something in between. And she was studying me far too intently, trying to determine if I recognized her true nature."
"Did she recognize yours?"
"I don't think so," Haiden replied. "But she sensed something significant. We need to be careful, and we need to see what's on that top floor before the presentation begins."
They made their way casually toward the edge of the grand hall, where a bank of elevators was guarded by two more white-uniformed attendants. Unlike the others, these guards wore subtle earpieces and stood with the alert posture of trained security personnel.
"Direct approach won't work," Kyra murmured. "We need a distraction."
As if on cue, a commotion erupted across the hall. A server had apparently tripped, sending a tray of champagne glasses crashing to the floor. As guests scattered to avoid the spill and staff rushed to clean up, one of the elevator guards moved to assist.
"Now," Haiden said, guiding Kyra smoothly toward the elevators.
The remaining guard stepped forward to intercept them. "I'm sorry, the upper floors are restricted to staff and presenters only."
"Of course," Haiden replied, his voice taking on a subtle resonance that Kyra had come to recognize as him using a fraction of his divine influence. "We're actually here to assist Dr. Voss with the presentation. She asked us to retrieve some materials from her office."
The guard's expression wavered between suspicion and acceptance. "I don't recall being informed—"
"It was a last-minute addition," Haiden continued smoothly. "You can confirm with Dr. Voss if you'd like, though I'm sure she's quite busy preparing for her address."
The guard hesitated, clearly reluctant to bother his superior but equally unwilling to allow unauthorized access. As he reached for his communication device, Kyra decided to add her own touch to the deception.
"Oh, for goodness' sake," she said with perfectly feigned exasperation, channeling every entitled socialite she'd ever encountered in her police work. "Do you have any idea how much Mr. Black donated to your foundation last quarter? I'm sure Dr. Voss would be thrilled to hear you delayed her presentation because you couldn't be bothered to check the updated access list."
The guard's resolve visibly crumbled. "I... of course. My apologies. Please, go right ahead."
He stepped aside, allowing them to enter the elevator. As the doors closed, Kyra let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Nice touch," Haiden complimented. "The entitled donor's assistant. Very convincing."
"I've dealt with enough of them in my time," Kyra replied with a small smile. "Though I've usually been on the other side of that conversation."
Haiden pressed the button for the top floor, but nothing happened. Instead, a small panel opened beside the regular buttons, revealing a biometric scanner.
"Ah," he said. "That complicates things."
"Can you bypass it?" Kyra asked.
"Not without using more divine power than I'd like to reveal," Haiden admitted. "But perhaps..."
He pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. Seconds later, the elevator lurched and began ascending, bypassing all other floors.
"Jinx?" Kyra guessed.
"She's been in their systems since this afternoon," Haiden confirmed. "Apparently, their cybersecurity is excellent against conventional hackers but has some interesting vulnerabilities to supernatural coding techniques."
The elevator continued its smooth ascent, finally stopping at the top floor. Before the doors opened, Haiden turned to Kyra.
"Stay close to me," he instructed, his expression serious. "If we're right about what's up here, it could be dangerous, and not just in the conventional sense."
Kyra nodded, touching the iron bracelet for reassurance. "I'm ready."
The doors slid open to reveal a corridor that looked nothing like the opulent gala space below. Here, the aesthetic was clinical and futuristic, white walls, recessed lighting that pulsed with a subtle rhythm, and doors made of some material that wasn't quite metal or glass but something in between.
Most striking, however, was the air itself. It seemed to shimmer and distort, creating a subtle visual effect like heat waves rising from hot pavement. And there was a pressure, not physical, but something that pressed against Kyra's mind, making it difficult to focus.
"The veil is thin here," Haiden murmured, his voice tight with concentration. "They've been weakening the barriers between realms."
They moved cautiously down the corridor, passing doors with labels like "Transition Protocols" and "Essence Extraction Research." At the end of the hall stood a set of double doors marked simply "Convergence Chamber."
"That's where we need to go," Haiden said, his divine senses clearly detecting something significant beyond those doors.
As they approached, Kyra felt the strange pressure intensify. Her ears popped as if she'd changed altitude rapidly, and for a moment, her vision doubled, seeing both the physical corridor and something else overlaid upon it, a space that seemed to extend in impossible directions.
"Haiden," she whispered, alarmed. "I'm seeing... something else."
"The buffer realm," he confirmed grimly. "It's bleeding through here. The boundaries are extremely weak."
They reached the double doors, which were secured with another biometric scanner. Before they could decide how to proceed, Kyra's earpiece crackled to life.
"Incoming," came Jinx's voice, tense and urgent. "Security's been alerted. Someone recognized Uncle H. You've got maybe two minutes before they lock down the building."
Haiden made a quick decision. "No more subtlety, then."
He placed his hand on the scanner, and for a brief moment, his eyes flashed with divine power. The scanner sparked and smoked, and the doors slid open with a hydraulic hiss.
What lay beyond defied conventional description.