Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 297: Inspection Gone Wrong

They entered the aviary one after another, the doors closing softly behind them. The large space was filled with the soft rustle of feathers and the occasional chirp of bird-type beasts, a tranquil atmosphere that belied the tension in the air.

The aviary was a vast, domed structure, its ceiling high enough to allow even the largest of the winged creatures to soar freely. Sunlight filtered through the glass panels above, casting dappled light across the lush greenery that filled the space.

The inspectors and Mr. Hawke moved purposefully, their eyes scanning the area with a calculated intensity.

Adrian stayed close to Mrs. Rena, watching the way she held herself with a quiet confidence, though he could sense the undercurrent of anxiety beneath her composed exterior. Irithel and the other workers hung back slightly, their expressions a mix of concern and vigilance.

As they walked further into the aviary, the bird-type beasts took notice of the intruders. Some of the smaller creatures flitted away, while the larger ones watched with wary eyes. A majestic hawk-like beast perched on a branch high above them, its sharp gaze tracking their every move.

"Let's see how the creatures are doing," Mr. Hawke said, his tone oozing with false concern. He reached out to touch one of the beasts—a large, owl-like creature with strikingly bright feathers.

The beast remained calm, its feathers ruffling slightly under Mr. Hawke's hand, but there was no sign of wildness or aggression.

The inspector did the same, moving from one beast to another, carefully examining their behavior. The beasts responded similarly, showing no signs of distress or unusual aggression.

The uniformed man, who had remained silent since they entered, also approached a group of smaller, sparrow-like creatures. He gently stroked one, and it chirped softly, almost contentedly.

Mrs. Rena watched closely, her breath held in anticipation. After several moments of silence, she finally exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "As you can see," she said, her voice steady but with a touch of relief, "our sanctuary is doing well. The creatures are healthy and calm, as they should be."

The inspector nodded, his expression neutral, but it was clear that nothing was amiss—at least not enough to warrant immediate concern. Irithel and the other workers exchanged relieved glances, the tension in the room easing just a bit.

However, Adrian wasn't convinced.

His eyes flicked to Mr. Hawke, who stood near the center of the aviary, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips. It was a smile that sent a cold chill down Adrian's spine.

Something was wrong—very wrong.

'He's starting now, huh? Should I-'

"Screee-!"

Before Adrian could voice his concerns, a sudden, ear-piercing screech shattered the calm. The hawk-like beast that had been perched above them suddenly took flight, its wings beating the air with frantic energy. In an instant, the peaceful atmosphere of the aviary dissolved into chaos.

The screech was echoed by the other beasts, their cries growing louder and more frenzied with each passing second. The owl-like creature Mr. Hawke had touched moments before suddenly lashed out, its talons slashing through the air as it attacked the nearest worker.

The sparrow-like creatures, which had been calm under the uniformed man's touch, now darted around wildly, crashing into walls and each other in a desperate bid to escape.

Adrian barely had time to react before one of the larger beasts swooped down towards him, its claws outstretched. He ducked just in time, the wind from its wings ruffling his hair as it passed overhead.

Around him, the other workers cried out in alarm, trying to fend off the sudden onslaught of attacks.

Mrs. Rena, who had been watching in stunned silence, quickly snapped into action. "Everyone, get down!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. She moved to help one of the workers who had been knocked to the ground by a particularly aggressive beast, her face set in a grim expression.

Adrian's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the sudden shift in the beasts' behavior.

This wasn't a natural reaction—something had triggered them, something that wasn't present when they first entered. He looked to Mr. Hawke, who had retreated to the far side of the aviary, his earlier smile replaced by a look of calculated satisfaction.

Adrian's suspicions deepened. He had a feeling this was exactly what Mr. Hawke had been hoping for—evidence of instability within the sanctuary, something that could be used against them.

'But what exactly did Evangeline give him?'

As the chaos continued to unfold, Adrian knew they had to act quickly. "Mrs. Rena!" he called out, dodging another swooping beast. "We need to calm them down before someone gets seriously hurt!"

Mrs. Rena nodded, her eyes scanning the aviary for something that could help. "Irithel!" she shouted. "Get the calming scent! We need to use it now!"

Irithel, who had been helping another worker fend off a particularly aggressive bird, quickly broke away and dashed towards the back of the aviary, where the calming scents were stored.

The other workers and Mr.Hawke's men tried their best to hold their ground, but the situation was growing increasingly dangerous by the second.

Though the inspector and TWAO agent seemed fine, it seemed like they had no intention of helping the others.

Adrian's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to think of anything else that could help. His eyes fell on a control panel near the entrance—one that controlled the aviary's internal systems. It was a risky move, but they were running out of options.

"I'm going to try something!" Adrian shouted to Mrs. Rena, who gave him a quick nod of acknowledgment before returning her focus to the beasts.

He sprinted towards the control panel, dodging a pair of birds that were fighting mid-air. But before he could make a move, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from behind.

"I've got it!" Irithel shouted, her arms filled with small vials of the calming scent. She rushed forward, distributing them among the workers and Mrs. Rena. Without hesitation, they began to release the soothing aroma into the air, hoping to quell the beasts' frenzy.

And, it seemed to have worked.

The cries of the creatures began to soften, their wild movements slowing as the calming scent spread through the aviary. The workers dared to hope, their tense shoulders relaxing slightly as the chaotic energy seemed to dissipate.

But the relief was short-lived.

A low, menacing growl rippled through the air, followed by a sudden surge of aggression. The beasts, who had appeared to be calming down, suddenly lashed out with renewed ferocity.

The owl-like creature that had attacked a worker moments before now screeched in rage, its talons slicing through the air with deadly precision. The hawk-like beast that had taken flight swooped down again, this time narrowly missing Irithel as she ducked out of the way.

The calming scent, which should have soothed the creatures, seemed to have the opposite effect, amplifying their aggression to dangerous levels.

The inspector, who had been watching with a critical eye, shouted over the din, his voice filled with accusation. "What the hell did you do? You're making them more aggressive!" Experience new stories on m v|l e'-NovelBin.net

The TWAO agent, who had remained silent until now, joined in, his voice sharp and commanding. "This is reckless! Are you trying to get everyone killed?"

Mrs. Rena looked stricken, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "I—I don't understand," she stammered, her composure cracking under the weight of the situation. "This has never happened before!"

Mr. Hawke, who had retreated to a safer distance, seized the opportunity to fan the flames. "I knew it," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "This place is a disaster waiting to happen. You've lost control, and now we're all paying the price!"

His words only served to agitate the workers further, their faces pale with fear and uncertainty. The beasts' cries grew louder, their attacks more vicious as the situation spiraled further out of control.

He could feel the panic rising around him, the frantic energy of the workers, the fear in Mrs. Rena's eyes, the smug satisfaction on Mr. Hawke's face. But Adrian wasn't about to let things end like this.

'I hope my guess is right.'

With this thought, he pressed one of the buttons.

The next moment, a loud whirring sound filled the aviary, and suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept through the space.