The clock in the emergency office was four minutes slow. Sera knew because she had checked it against her phone before the duty official called her name.
She placed both sets of readings on the desk. The first followed the drainage route from the waterworks toward Bell Street Plaza. The second followed it in reverse. The junction where the signals blended was shaded, not marked as a confirmed source.
The official, a woman named Grant, examined the map and Sera’s D-rank card. “You believe there may be a gate under the plaza.”
“I believe there’s a current separate from the waterworks reading. It may be a gate. I can’t give you a size or opening date.”
“When did you first detect it?”
Sera gave the time and pointed out the runoff interruption. Grant read the notes, then opened the office’s response guide.
“We need confirmation from a higher-ranked licensed hunter before we can order an evacuation on this evidence.”
Eli leaned forward. “By the time someone else confirms it, the festival could be open.”
