Chapter 150

The members of the Investigation Department, who returned with plundered goods, were faced with an unexpected situation.

“The elevator was destroyed…?”

Upon hearing the report from the contact at the forward base in the safe zone, Lera felt a slight headache. Plans had gone awry.

She elevated her threat level concerning the Unity Cult. Although she had thought of the countless beggars as insignificant, their madness had to be acknowledged.

Who would have thought such a major incident would occur? With this, the plan to secure the Vision Prism and immediately head to the Gate was thrown into disarray.

But there was an even bigger problem.

“We’re conducting security checks at the entrance of the forward base. Even the minor clans inside are inspecting everyone and every vehicle approaching separately.”

There was a far more thorough search being conducted on all vehicles and individuals heading to the safe zone’s forward base than usual.

And that wasn’t all. As news of the elevator collapse gradually spread through people, landlines, and short-range communication, even the workers sensed a crisis and returned.

To exaggerate, the area around the forward base walls and entrance was bustling like a highway in the vacation season. There were far too many eyes on them.

“Could our plan have been exposed?”

“Fortunately, it hasn’t. It seems the Unity Cult fanatics were preparing a ritual here with the Vision Prism. Everyone’s attention is focused in that direction.”

That was a relief. Thus far, their plans and disguises hadn’t been compromised. Currently, they were using the Paper Clan’s name to position themselves here.

The Magnavis members held an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures.

“As everyone knows, Plan 1 is out of the question given the current situation.”

As Lera spoke, all eyes turned to her in agreement.

It was now impossible to casually disguise themselves as cargo and cross the Gate. The relic was too large to conceal with magic, and the original disguises they had prepared were likely to fail.

“The problem is which plan to proceed with. What about Plan 4? I know it’s a contingency plan, but isn’t it about time to reconsider?”

As the mechanical voice of the Vanguard commander echoed, a few members flinched and looked at him. It wasn’t just the mechanical voice; it was the audacity of the plan itself.

“With all due respect, even at Vanguard, how do you intend to deal with so many people…? Uh, pardon me.”

A male member raised an opposing opinion but recoiled at the glance sent from the agent behind the mask. The commander smirked and continued speaking.

“Do you really think it’s impossible? Don’t you worry about that.”

The Vanguard commander pointed behind himself. The Investigation Department members were busy moving, while the relaxed Vanguard agents waited.

“Given our current strength, it’s entirely possible. Do you know how many times I’ve done something similar before? The calculations are already finished. Most of the people at the forward base are Non-Awakened laborers or low-level Hunters. It won’t take long.”

Opposition poured in over the radical plan.

“But it’s not just those guys. The main force of the Federal Army is approaching from the rear! How are we supposed to deal with a tank division? We risk getting caught between the forward base and the mechanized unit! And what if our identities are exposed during combat? Let’s go with Plan 2. If we wait, the elevator will be restored in no time. We can wait for the main army.”

Someone spoke up. A member on the opposing side waved their hands dismissively.

“The fanatics are also targeting the Prism, right? What if we hide it and they take it? Don’t forget, due to the project being conducted at the academy, we need to secure this in time. Let’s go with Plan 3. We have jetpacks and bikes prepared for this occasion. Everyone knows how to use Flying Magic.”

“So, we’re just going to hide? It’s inevitable that it’ll be exposed. We have to hit them hard now!”

The emergency meeting gradually heated up as voices rose. After thinking quietly for a moment, Lera finally spoke up.

“Everyone, there’s a better way. We can hand the Prism over to the Federal Army.”

At her unexpected suggestion, everyone turned to her. Lera calmly continued to explain.

“If the Vision Prism falls into the hands of ordinary people, they will surely try to destroy or dismantle it. However, the Federal Army won’t simply allow the relic to be smashed. According to the intel, their goal is to secure the relic, not destroy it.”

“Are you saying we should just give it to them, that precious item? Of course, we don’t need it immediately as a backup, but it’s an order from the mage. You know that, right?”

“Of course, I don’t mean we should just hand it over. We’ll use the power of the Vision Prism.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“We activate the relic and then hand it over.”

She reminded the members of the Investigation Department about their abilities. If they mobilized the researchers to inject a small amount of magical power into the Vision Prism, adding appropriate magic formulas and magical engineering parts, they could neutralize all life forms within a radius of hundreds of meters, which left everyone in awe.

The Vanguard commander, having been listening, clapped briefly as if intrigued.

“So, you’re suggesting we use it as a remotely controlled bomb?”

“Exactly. If our predictions are right, the Federal Army will never let go of this relic. Whether the elevator is fixed or we’re in the process of transporting the relic outside the Gate, we can activate it at a moment we desire.”

Due to circumstances, the Federal Army couldn’t act brazenly. They wouldn’t cooperate in the disposal of the relic.

And when the opportunity arose, they could neutralize the enemy with the power of the relic and retrieve it again.

Those who listened to Lera’s opinion found it to be quite a decent idea and supported it. After the meeting ended, the members hurried to prepare for their withdrawal. Another member began to modify the Vision Prism.

In front of the Prism, a female member, upon receiving her superior’s order, grimaced and refused to work.

“You want me to activate the Vision Prism? That’s too dangerous. I still don’t have complete grasp of the mechanisms. Relics don’t operate just with human thought. Magical power is…”

Bored by the lengthy explanation typical of engineering types, another member struck the woman on the back of her head.

“Shut up and get to work! It’s just about knocking someone out anyway, what’s the problem?”

The shock made her brown ponytail sway. She let out a small sound and grabbed her head.

“Y-you’re going to do that to a person? It could easily go beyond merely knocking them out…”

“Quit pretending to be nice; you knew what you were getting into when you joined. Move it!”

Under her superior’s pressure, the member hesitated but began to work nonetheless.

Inside a speeding command armored vehicle, Major Marius was furiously scolding his subordinates over the radio.

“Find it immediately! If you can’t, it’s the day you and I both take off our military uniforms. Got it?”

After finishing his orders, Major Marius slumped into his seat.

“Damn it! Just when I had a chance…!”

Around him, although it was being publicized as a ‘sweep of illegal organizations,’ the real mission of the Federal Army’s 60th Mobile Combat Unit was something else entirely. It was to secure the Vision Prism.

“If it gets even slightly damaged, it’s a big deal…”

The major thought of the higher-ups’ orders. If this mission went well, he could rise higher up the ranks.

He also recalled a few words that his superior had mentioned. This was a secret weapon project.

The security documents he had been given were covered in black lines, making it impossible to grasp the specific details of the plans. However, it was enough to understand the purpose.

The Vision Prism would become a powerful weapon. A trump card that would hit the four major clans and the monsters hard. A strategic weapon that couldn’t even be compared to nuclear weapons or electromagnetic devices.

“I don’t know what the higher-ups are planning to make, but it’s bound to be an incredible weapon. Those damn clan idiots will be trembling at the sight.”

Recalling his past life of being looked down upon as a low-level Hunter, he furrowed his brow for a moment.

“By the way, those foolish subordinates better do their jobs well…”

The major thought. The Non-Awakened soldiers were too slow. Even with the expensive railguns and exoskeletons provided, they dropped like flies when they got bored.

-Captain of the Mobile Unit! We’ve found the relic!

Upon hearing the report, the major suddenly brightened as if forgetting his previous frustration.

“Good. Let’s secure it and move to the safe zone immediately!”

After eating and taking a stroll, Unit 451 saw people having a scuffle at the entrance of the forward base.

“What’s that?”

Since the Atlas Clan had beefed up their security checks, the entrance had long been decorated with the agitated voices of unhappy people. With X-ray machines, metal detectors, mirrors, and all sorts of magical devices and formulas employed for inspection, it took a long time. Anyone would find it tedious.

However, this time, the situation was a little different.

“That’s a tank!”

Surprisingly, a bunch of vehicles from the Federal Army were lined up at the entrance, with tanks leading the way.

“You know the regulations, right? This is the Vision Prism! Hand it over immediately. It must be destroyed!”

Clan members were facing off against soldiers. At the forefront was that Major Marius they had seen yesterday.

The major, brandishing his pistol, shouted loudly.

“This is Federal property! Don’t you know that possession of relics from dungeons belongs to whoever finds them first? You guys seem suspicious. Are you truly Hunters?”

“That only applies to ordinary relics. This is hazardous material! We just need to dismantle it here. What’s the problem?”

“So, you plan to take the elevator up after it’s fixed and do it safely at the military base!”

“As soon as we step outside the Gate, the city is right there! What if it explodes during the transfer?”

“Then we’ll call for a transport helicopter. You ignorant fools, get out of the way!”

As the soldiers argued, the Violets felt a strange vibration.

“What’s that?”

Strange creatures were approaching from beyond the corridor. Unit 642, waiting outside the forward base, shouted in surprise.

“It’s monsters! Ahhh!”

Moments after reporting, Unit 642 was swallowed by a thick, dark slime and died instantly.

It was a High-Level Monster, Noxterra. Seeing the wave of monsters rushing in suddenly, both the Federal soldiers and Clan members hastily ceased their fighting.

And in the next moment, I couldn’t help but be astonished. Riding atop the Noxterra was someone wearing a bizarre pointed hat.

“Is that… someone riding a monster?”

I shouted in surprise.

“Irene! Daphne! Look over there! It’s a monster rider!”

Now that I looked closely, there were people mounted atop the monsters.

The slime rider, with a pointed hat, swung a flaming sword and roared with a voice that echoed in the dungeon.

“Hear me, heretics and unbelievers! Fear! The time for ascension has come!”