338 To The Mainland
According to Pride's observations, sabotaging the submarine without detection seemed impossible. Given the current circumstances, she felt compelled to assist with security to prevent any potential sabotage attempts, as she was the only one with enough motive to harm this super submarine.
Any mishap, whether natural or man-made, would inevitably cast suspicion on her as the most likely culprit, with something to gain if the super submarine malfunctioned or was sabotaged.
After careful consideration, Pride decided against sabotage. The potential success wasn't worth it, and even if it worked, the long-term consequences were not in her favor.
At that moment, a familiar figure entered Daniel's sight — none other than Odysseus in his blue suit and leather vest over his shirt. He bowed toward Daniel with a noble manner instead of kneeling, adapting to modern times.
Odysseus noticed Heracles and Momotaro, acknowledging them with a friendly smile, recognizing them as resurrected individuals. He registered this information in a split second before turning his full attention to his master.
"Welcome, my lord. I hope that all of my arrangements meet your standards," Odysseus politely said.
"Oh! You've come too!? Nice… This means Penthesilea stays at the base then?" asked Daniel.
"Yes, my lord. She wanted to come, but, at the end of the day, she is still the director of Atlanteus base and needs to stay there. Besides, someone needs to look after young lady Sylvana and make sure that the fanatic doesn't do anything strange," explained Odysseus, mentioning Christopher.
"I see, that guy is still there, I presume," Daniel uttered.
"Yes, but we've kept this operation on a need-to-know basis, and he hasn't seen Oceanos. So, I don't think he knows too much about us. For the Vatican, the existence of Oceanos is still a secret," said Odysseus.
"That's good, but you don't need to worry too much about Oceanos' secret since there will be plenty of new toys with the same power as Oceanos in the future. Let them focus and marvel at Oceanos so that we can blindside them with all of those toys later," Daniel said towards Odysseus.
"Yes, my lord." Odysseus then turned towards Pride and Gluttony. "May I ask who these two ladies are?"
Daniel then began to introduce Pride and Gluttony along with Kato, Goro, and their families, providing background information.
"I see… Welcome to Oceanos, ladies and gentlemen. Please follow me, and I'll bring all of you to your rooms," Odysseus said towards the guests, then began guiding them to the guest section.
16:52
After some time, Odysseus arranged for Pride to stay in a VIP apartment with amenities such as a TV, internet connection, bathtub, refrigerator, and kitchen—everything a person needs and more in their daily lives!
Sitting alone in the room that Odysseus had arranged for her, she thought to herself.
In the end, she couldn't do anything other than go with the flow and remember as many details as possible about what happened here. This information would be crucial later to convince her father to negotiate with Daniel.
Yes! She emphasized negotiating with Daniel, not Greed or the USA, as neither of them had made her give up.
No! It was not Daniel alone who made her give up; it was because of his forces and various dangerous toys that had made her give up. Yes, no one had made her give up by themselves, not even Daniel!
Choosing negotiation with Daniel was the most rational approach for a mage in this situation—cutting their losses and settling for the second best since the best was unattainable.
It was unfortunate that she couldn't use any recording tools, as Envy had already confiscated them. Additionally, Pride didn't know any utility magic to record sound and images. Otherwise, she could have used those as evidence to convince her father and those obstinate, power-hungry fools in the triumvirate!
She just hoped that when she returned, there wouldn't be any surprises or foolish actions that angered Daniel beyond the scope of forgiveness, pushing him to choose war over negotiation.
—
In the heart of Oceanos, within the bustling and technologically advanced bridge, Daniel found himself surrounded by an intricate network of consoles, holographic displays, and the low hum of machinery. The central focal point of the bridge was a colossal dome-shaped screen, providing a breathtaking 180-degree view of the ocean expanse ahead. The seamless display stretched from one end of the bridge to the other, immersing everyone in a panoramic vista of the underwater world.
Daniel stood at the helm, his eyes fixed on the vast oceanic landscape displayed before him. The holographic representation on the dome screen was so lifelike that it felt as though he could reach out and touch the vibrant marine life and intricate coral formations.
To his left and right, crew members, dressed in sleek uniforms, operated their respective stations, each overseeing a crucial aspect of Oceanos' functionality. Technicians monitored energy levels, engineers ensured the integrity of the submarine's hull, and communication officers maintained contact with other operatives and bases.
Beside Daniel, Envy stood, her smile intact, checking Daniel's side profile as he marveled at all the functions. She remained silent, allowing Daniel to focus on his devices before she spoke loudly.
"Activate the dimensional phasing!"
Envy's voice reverberated within the bridge, accompanied by the quiet hum of a different kind of engine echoing throughout the super submarine.
Outside Oceanos, its humongous hull underwater slowly phased, leaving only a transparent shadow, akin to a desert mirage, before its engines hummed and propelled it toward its destination—mainland Japan.
In this mode, Oceanos could use its full speed without worrying about creating a tsunami or any disturbance on the water surface. It could phase through various obstacles, such as small stones, coral, fishes, and any waterborne obstacles, even the shallow seafloor that might suddenly appear, eliminating the need for navigators to plot detours.
Oceanos glided effortlessly, phasing through everything in its path.
On Daniel's side, this was the first time he had witnessed the full functionality of Oceanos since its initial manifestation. The awe he felt at the materialization and empowerment of the submarine resonated within him.
"You seem to be in awe at your own creation. Didn't you already know every detail about this thing?" Envy asked with a teasing smile, more for the sake of playfulness than genuine curiosity.
Hearing the question, Daniel didn't show any alarm on his face; he had prepared an answer in case it was asked.
"What can I say? I built the thing, but it doesn't mean I invented it by myself. I got its blueprint from my teacher and went from there. Besides, testing it in a simulation is different from seeing the real thing, don't you think?" Daniel replied with a smile.
"I see," Envy nodded, intertwining her hand with Daniel's, watching the screen as the submarine projected the beauty of the underwater realm while gliding through.
— A few hours later —
As Oceanos approached the mainland shore, the bustling city of Edo, with its intricate network of waterways and heavily fortified harbor, came into view on the colossal bridge screen. The holographic display from the orbital cannon revealed a sprawling metropolis and a significant military presence throughout the city.
Edo was on high alert, well aware of Daniel's inevitable arrival. The city's mana signature emanated from massive astral constructs, particularly strong around the Shogun castle, indicating heightened defenses.
Warships patrolled the waters around Edo, cannons poised outward as a clear deterrent. Soldiers and heavily armed Samurai conducted thorough patrols along the waterfront and held strategic positions throughout the city.
"It seems I underestimated the local information network a little too much; the news of my arrival arrived here faster than I expected," said Daniel in a calm tone.
"Yeah, you gave them a head start of about two days. It would be a joke if they don't know you're coming for them," Envy commented.
As Oceanos continued its approach, the warships became more visible on the screen. The crews were alert, scanning the sea's surface, unaware that Daniel was approaching in a submarine hidden in dimensional phasing mode.
"This is as close as we can get, sir. Any closer, and we won't be able to re-materialize, as the seafloor is too shallow for our submarine," One of the navigators monitoring the seafloor and surroundings reported.
Daniel nodded in acknowledgment. "Understood. Maintain optimal status and be on standby, prepared to re-materialize at any time," he ordered.
At that moment, Odysseus, stationed at the commander's console not far from Daniel, pushed a button, revealing an avatar picture of a cute bat with a pacifier in its mouth.
"Maria, report. What's your status?" inquired Odysseus.
In a few moments, the sound came through, and the text "Sound Only" appeared below the cute baby bat avatar. "I've received the information that our target is in the basement. Please wait until the rescue team finishes the mission," said Maria.
"You called Maria back from Europe!?" Daniel asked Odysseus, recognizing him as his strategist who focused on the plan and the bigger picture.
"Yes, my lord. Since Europe has Mr. Vlad held the fort against the Vatican and the Hightower, and right now, most of them are engaged in power and political plays with spy and reconnaissance work taking less priority, I called her here because only she can pull this off," Odysseus explained.
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