Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 296: An Unannounced Inspection [2]

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. The aviary—where the monsters had mysteriously attacked Mr. Hawke during the last inspection. It was clear what they were planning to do, perhaps 'hoping' to find a reason to shut the sanctuary down once and for all.

'He even bought the person from TWAO, huh...' Adrian chuckled inwardly before standing in their way.

"What is the meaning of this?" Mr. Hawke demanded, his voice cold and authoritative. The inspector and the uniformed man exchanged glances, clearly irritated by Adrian's interference.

Adrian's expression remained composed, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "According to the rules," he began, his tone polite but firm, "any inspection must be preceded by the presentation of official documents. These documents should then be reviewed by the sanctuary's owner or their representative before any inspection can commence. I assume you have those documents with you?"

The inspector's brow furrowed, and the man in the official uniform shot Adrian a sharp look. Mr. Hawke's eyes narrowed, his displeasure evident. It was clear that none of them had expected this challenge.

Adrian continued to smile inwardly. He didn't even know if such a rule existed, but he was willing to bet that neither Mr. Hawke nor the inspector knew for sure either. After all, bureaucracy could be a labyrinth, and even those who navigated it daily often found themselves uncertain of every twist and turn.

The uniformed man, however, didn't back down so easily. He straightened, his expression hardening as he looked down at Adrian. "This is a matter of utmost importance," he said, his voice edged with authority. "We don't have time for unnecessary delays."

Adrian met his gaze calmly. "I understand the importance, but procedures exist for a reason. If we're going to do this, we should do it by the book. Otherwise, any actions taken today could be challenged later on, and I'm sure none of us want that."

The tension in the air thickened as the two men locked eyes. For a moment, it seemed as if the situation might escalate, but then the inspector, perhaps sensing that they were on shaky ground, spoke up.

"The young man is right," he said grudgingly, his tone begrudging but resigned. "We should present the documents first. It's standard procedure."

Mr. Hawke's jaw tightened, but he reluctantly nodded. The uniformed man reached into his coat and pulled out a folder, handing it to the inspector, who opened it and began flipping through the papers.

While the inspector was occupied, Adrian cast a quick glance at Irithel, who met his gaze with a look of understanding. Then she ran off to call Mrs. Rena.

The inspector finally found the document he was looking for and handed it to Adrian. Adrian took it, glancing over the official-looking papers with a practiced eye. He wasn't that of an expert in legal documents, but he could tell that everything appeared to be in order—at least on the surface.

However, he continued reading, just to stall for time, enough for Irithel and Mrs. Rena to come.

"Have you read enough?" Mr. Hawke asked visibly frustrated. "Wait, do you even know what you are reading?"

"No?"

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Adrian could sense the frustration boiling within Mr. Hawke, and he had to suppress a smirk as he continued to hold the documents in his hands, making a show of reading them slowly. The inspector shifted impatiently, glancing at his companions, while the man in the official uniform kept his stern gaze fixed on Adrian, clearly displeased with the delay.

Just as Mr. Hawke was about to explode in anger, Adrian looked up, feigning ignorance. "Oh, I apologize," he said, his tone light and unbothered. "I guess I'm taking too long."

Mr. Hawke's face twisted with barely contained fury. "Enough of this nonsense! You have no authority to delay us like this—"

"Is there a problem here?" a calm, authoritative voice cut through the tension, causing everyone to turn toward the source.

Irithel had returned, and beside her was Mrs. Rena, her expression stern and composed. Flanking them were Mrs. Jenny and a few other workers who had likely met them on the way. The sight of the sanctuary's leadership team seemed to deflate Mr. Hawke's aggression somewhat, though the frustration still lingered in his eyes.

"Mrs. Rena," Mr. Hawke acknowledged, trying to regain some semblance of control. "We're here for an inspection, as you know. This boy was just wasting our time."

Mrs. Rena's gaze flicked to Adrian, who gave her a subtle nod, before she turned her attention back to Mr. Hawke. "Sir Adrian was only ensuring that proper procedures were followed. We wouldn't want there to be any misunderstandings, would we?"

The inspector cleared his throat, still holding the folder of documents. "The documents have been presented," he said, his tone attempting to smooth over the situation. "Now that Mrs. Rena is here, we can proceed with the inspection as planned."

Mrs. Rena took the folder from Adrian, scanning the documents herself with a practiced eye. Her calm, composed demeanor was a stark contrast to the barely concealed irritation radiating from Mr. Hawke and his associates. Adrian watched her closely, noting the way her eyes flicked over each page with the assurance of someone well-versed in dealing with such matters.

After a moment, she looked up. "Everything seems to be in order," she said, her tone cool and professional. "However, it would have been courteous to notify us of your visit beforehand. Our staff could have been better prepared to assist you."

The uniformed man straightened, as if trying to reclaim the upper hand. "As I mentioned earlier, this is an urgent matter. We couldn't afford to wait."

Mrs. Rena nodded, though there was a hint of steel in her eyes. "I understand the importance of your visit. However, as the owner and head of this sanctuary, I must insist that all future inspections be conducted with prior notice. It's only fair to both our staff and the creatures in our care."

Mr. Hawke opened his mouth to argue, but Mrs. Rena's unwavering gaze stopped him in his tracks. Instead, he huffed and gestured toward the aviary. "Enough of this. Let's get on with the inspection.

We'll start with the aviary."

Mrs. Rena exchanged a quick glance with Adrian, who could see the silent communication passing between them. She was aware of the underlying danger, just as he was. But for now, it seemed they had no choice but to play along.

"Very well," Mrs. Rena said, her voice steady. "Follow me. We'll begin with the aviary as you requested."