"They're here!"
Dali shouted, alerting the other two as she opened the screen they put at the entrance of the makeshift hideout to let us in. It's an invention in this world which could be put up to camouflage something, taking in the previous state of the place. It uses Meta Energy to activate but the energy will not run in front but behind it which makes it hard to be picked up by those sensitive to it. Those who will pass through this place would only be able to see abandoned ruins in its previous state. The state before we arrived. Unless they look closely it wouldn't be noticed easily.
Behind that screen was the hideout they managed to arrange and was still currently arranging. It's only been a few hours since we left and it's not even noon yet.
Though we left the Black Market with the sky still a bit dark, we arrived at our hideout with the sun already on its way to rise over our heads.
After using the orb earlier, we didn't stay there to know the reason why they suddenly cracked up on the vagrants. The closest guess was because of what I did considering what that one guy said, but I couldn't rule out the possibility that it was the Dark World denizens who we came across as the reason. But it's probably also linked to what we did..
There's no point to act as a hero in a situation such as that. I'm not a Hero, after all, also the danger which my Adaptability was sensing hadn't abated until we left the vicinity of that Black Market.
It should be someone I could cope with since it's not the feeling of helplessness which I felt from the old man in the mansion ruins. However, there's a lot of them in there, fighting one against many wasn't ideal. That's just asking to get beaten up and expose myself to the Dark World denizen.
Though they got implicated by my actions, with us being the most suspicious, they will only be interrogated at best. If those from the Black Market kill them then I could only apologize to them.
One thing is for sure though, that place, I will destroy it or rather, I will have it destroyed.
Letting them continue to feed the Invading forces with resources was something I wouldn't allow to happen
I'll ask Nysia's help to crack those Black Markets, I'll even volunteer myself and urge the three Heroes to do the same. It's not about saving the world for me, it's to not let them be stronger than us that it could put Nysia or those who I cared for in danger.
I really need to become a Transcendent soon. Will the door appear before me when I reach the Power Level 100? I don't know, we'll see.
My existence was still not detected by them since they're still only going after the Heroes and the World. But that incident back on Earth would probably raise some alarm to them. Those who possessed Earthlings saw my face, especially the Leader. If they cross-referenced if they ever have a list of Heroes' faces, my face wouldn't show up.
Ah. It's not like I want them to recognize me, it's better not to be targeted by them left and right.
Well, if I managed to become a Transcendent, I will certainly be put in their eyes anyway. However that will be as a denizen of this world.
The three Heroes here had it fairly easy, they're being protected by their factions so even if the Darkgens focused on them, there will probably be a group of shields for them.
"Be alert, we'll have to stay here for the rest of the day. We found something and they'll probably search the vicinity."
Once we're inside, I had them line up and tell them our discovery and infiltration of the Black Market.
"Sir. The vagrants…"
Nell who thought of the vagrants that were caught instead of us expressed her concerns.
I shook my head towards her before continuing.
"One of you has to send the report back to the Sentry Base and have it be delivered directly to the Head. Put my name into it. Don't let anyone see it but the Head and you have to be fast."
I didn't answer Nell because it's not really the time to worry about them and even if we worry, with only these guys here, it wouldn't be enough even if they sacrifice themselves.
"Roger!"
The five of them saluted before someone stepped forward to take the role of the messenger.
Dali.
Her ability could boost her flying speed. Among the five here, she's the fastest if it's about sprinting from one place to another.
I can wait for the cooldown of Interdimensional Communication but this way is faster.
After writing the report that I specifically addressed to Nysia, I told her what we found out and the suspicions I got. I put suspicions because I want her to confirm it on her side. She has contacts on the higher-ups of the three factions and she could sweep the database of the League by herself.
This time, it's easier to rely on her influence and connections than doing it by myself.
I also put in the letter to contact the three Heroes. If they're not busy, they should go to the city and meet up with me here.
Since there were Confederacy and League members in there, their bosses will skim through the reports and the current distribution of forces. Our Patrol Team might be exposed to their eyes if some of my guesses are right.
If a Mythic-rank is really behind that kind of Black Markets then it's fairly easy for them to maneuver their forces to move here after identifying who they need to deal with.
Better to act swiftly like this.
Just the fact that they're trading with the Dark World denizens was enough reason to shut that Black Market down along with the places and people connected to it.
After seeing Dali fly back to the Sentry Base where she will have the Base Commander send it back to Nysia, I went further inside the hideout they made.
This is a former skyscraper with at least 50 floors but it was cleanly cut by something right at the 8th floor, reducing this place into this.
There's a lot of room available and even though it's dusty and messy, cleaning a place to sit on was easy.
For the following three hours before Dali went back from the Sentry Base, I used the time to continue absorbing energy and cultivate.
To avoid the disturbance that will be made by my Unrestrained Absorption, I used Energy Stones along with it to crawl closer to my next breakthrough.
Yuko and Yumiko will be finished with their preparations in three days. After that, they will knock on the door of Transcendence.
Nysia shared her experience to us but she mentioned how it will always be different from person to person. The most important thing she commented about being a Transcendent was that after becoming one, no Legend Rank or Rank 5 Mortals would be able to threaten them. Just like how she showed me during our sparring inside the simulation. Despite my tricks, I could only get her troubled by it.
Err… there were also times where I would tease her and that would result in her showing an opening.
"Sir. Here's the response!"
Dali handed me an encrypted tablet device where Nysia sent in her response to my report. It was unopened and well, the password hint was something only the two of us will know.
"Did you notice something amiss from the Sentry Base? Or are you sure no one followed you here?"
I asked her to confirm. Can't be so sure now.
"Some Confederacy and League members approached me and inquired about our mission before I left. I didn't answer them. I noticed at least two Metagens taking off after me. I'm not sure if they are following me but before arriving there's no one on my tail."
I see. There's a possibility that she was really followed but she shook them off. Or they managed to conceal themselves. In any case, there's no chance to confirm it.
"Alright. Thanks for your hard work."
"No! It's an honor!"
I nodded and dismissed her back to her duty after handing me the device.
Upon taking the device, I checked it first if there was any irregularity before going back to the room I was using.
After activating and opening the message, a holographic image of Nysia appeared before me in her official clothes, a white tight dress and a long sleeved coat draped over her shoulders. The same clothes she wore when she appeared in that room. She could've just written her response but she still used this. That girl...
In any case, this is a recording of her so even if I retorted it will continue to play by itself.
From her expression, I could see that it was her League Head mode and she's certainly angry about something.
"Don't rush in by yourself. I'll be coming there. The three Heroes were also informed but none of them could leave at the moment. I swept my executives and found two of them connected to that Black Market you mentioned. They're currently in the process of interrogation and I've already sent orders to capture everyone connected to them."
"My contact at the Confederacy and Eldur will also start moving to investigate, however, since it might involve their Mythic-rank, their movements will surely be restricted. We shouldn't expect help on their end."
"Remember. Wait for me, Daisuke. I have already terminated your Patrol Mission. Hold your position. Whether your suspicions are true or not, that place you discovered will be eradicated."
"I repeat, wait for me. Alright?"
Ending her message with that worried face of hers, I couldn't help but smile. That girl was worrying too much when she already knew that I'm not someone who would rush in without a plan.
Haa..For a simple Patrol Mission to turn like this. Is this my bad luck or it's really meant for the events to move forward like this?
After admiring her beauty for a while, I turned off the device and stored it inside the necklace before going out of the room to inform the five about the termination of the mission.
-
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Two hours later.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sounds of explosion roused us into attention. The area we were in was suddenly being bombarded by artillery rounds.
Though they all looked calm, the worry on the five Elite Members' faces couldn't be hidden.
"Calm down and line up. Prepare for combat at any moment."
I walked in front of them and calmly ordered. Judging from the sounds of explosion, they haven't really pinpointed our location and they're firing blindly.
It's either Dali or us who were followed here or someone leaked information about the Patrol Team in this area. I guess that's not important now.
With Nysia's speed she'll arrive in an hour or two, she told me to wait then wait I shall.
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