Inauspicious in White

"Druid…" Noah wasn't even surprised. "You can't take down his coven at your current strength, I see. Someone told me your Supreme used to be a level seven. If she couldn't handle that, then it's useless to send me in."

The woman chuckled and shook her head. "Come with me, Montana. Let's talk about it in depth somewhere else. Even the alleys like this could have ears."

Noah frowned at the woman. "Don't call me that, and I'm not going to see your Supreme. I didn't even agree to work with you yet."

A head shake came as her answer. She then swept her hair back to reveal a mark on her neck. It was akin to the summoning circles, but it was only as big as a child's palm. "Don't be so guarded, Montana. I can ask for you from Allan if that helps you understand. You are looking for Genevieve, too, correct?

"I have a general location for their coven, but rescuing Genie needed more than a level seven with a dead brand. Once we're done, we won't bother you anymore."

Noah stared at the woman. She seemed to be saying things that make a lot of sense, but he had no idea what she was talking about. What was that mark supposed to say? This woman was the Supreme? This was Yvette Larke?

Moreover, she mentioned someone named Genevieve. Was that the name of Richard's mother?

What's more, they located Druid's coven that SCC hadn't done yet. If these people were reliable—even for just locations, then Noah might need them to keep their communications open. Also, working with them now would show him what kind of potential allies they were.

"No." Noah's answer intrigued Yvette, to which she responded with raised brows. "I need a location from you after this. Witches of Satan's Pandemonium."

"The Pandemonium exists in a place parallel to our own world. You need not find it. What you need is entrance and exit from the place." Yvette chuckled. "I can help you with those, of course. Are those your only terms?"

"I work with my own team, too. Tell me where they are and wait for me there later." Noah still had to figure out how to get back to the motel before heading to wherever the coven was.

"I see. SCC has unearthed one of the castles of the coven. That was their southern castle." Yvette freely gave the location. "Locate the fancy restaurant named 'Delicioso' north from that mansion and dig deep. You will find yourself in their main castle.

"The coven will be having a conference once more. They just lost a level seven handler and a level nine pawn. They needed to reevaluate their enemies. We should strike now before they figure out how you killed the gluttony general…

"And before they could call another."

Her placid smile kept on making Noah not feel completely bought over. It was as if she had a lot of things to ask for from him. That was why he didn't want to dive in without his piece of conscience and second brain.

After she had spoken, the place misted. The whiteness covered Noah's vision as if it was specifically designed to run from witches. If they could do this and move around without much finding out, then perhaps their information could be reliable.

Noah only huffed and tried to contact Theresa. However, he felt like Caliga was asking him to come with him instead. When Noah jogged out of the alley, he ended up in a wider space… with Luca waiting for him while sitting on the black motorbike.

"I'm saved." Noah chuckled as he walked closer and received a helmet from the hunter. "How did you find me?"

"This thing did." Luca rubbed the head of the motorbike before helping Noah get on. "We have to go somewhere else. I heard from Carlos that their boss could be out today so we might not find him in Seclusion. He's supposed to attend a party in some place called 'Delicioso'. I have the address."

Noah smirked soundlessly under the helmet. Chroma's coven didn't lie about the location. Then again, he should be very careful this time. "Can you ask your sister to be around? I can't handle level sevens. Besides, our mission there is to terminate Druid's coven and… rescue Mrs. Connor, right?"

Luca was shocked. Noah had the initiative to call Alessa? Then again, they had already encountered a level seven and a level nine; if one showed up again and Mephisto didn't come, they would be in big trouble. "Okay, I'll let the White Magi know."

The black motorbike revved smoothly and traveled from shadows to shadows. It took a few minutes to arrive at the motel. Noah and Luca spent a few minutes inside to prepare before riding out again. By then, Alessa had received a text from Luca about the location and the secrecy of the operation.

She then walked towards Isla who was typing down on her computer. "Isla, can you check this location for me? Luca said a coven is located here, and they were hoping to enlist our help. It's the same coven with a level seven and a level nine demons."

"Oh? I'll take a look." Isla received the address and frowned. "They could hide very well from us with all those resources. No hits are showing for this location, but if Luca said the coven was here, we should believe him. They found the castle, didn't they?"

"I want to come with you!" Gianna closed her book. "The more help they could get, the faster they could take it down, right?"

Alessa only nodded. She didn't have to warn her sisters; they were all level seven and just a little less strong than her. She would also go with Tabitha and Winona. It's just like what Gianna said: the faster they could take it down, the less time Luca was exposed to danger.

…

Five women in white clothing walked into the dark alley like Valkyries ready to slay their enemies. Isla and Gianna were not members of the White Magi so they couldn't wear their uniform, but they still came in a white jumpsuit romper and a white dress plus cardigan respectively.

As if Noah saw the scene coming, he had asked Luca to prepare anything white on him. Luca was actually surprised that his three sisters came and had even tried to match the White Magi. Was it an attempt to blend with them and be easier to spot in the sea of witches and demons?

Alessa frowned as she saw the two men in white stylish jackets and shirts. If it was just her sisters, she would forgive them for almost mocking the White Magi. However, this witch had the audacity to do the same thing? "As much as I remember, witches love wearing black."

"I'd look like the enemy by then, wouldn't I?" Noah only shrugged and spread his smartwatch's screen for the women to see the storefront of the fancy restaurant. "Underneath this restaurant is another inverted castle. Druid should be holding a meeting right now.

"We asked for help for a reason. We were hoping you'd clear the demons while we look for our targets: Druid… and Genevieve Connor." Noah tried being the one briefing his colleagues for now since he knew that Yvette Larke might be watching them. Besides, this was his team, right?

The White Magi, only those three in particular, was sent by the Order to aid SCC… just like Luca. They would count as SCC's people now that they considered Sleepydog the same. Moreover, Rebecca and Theresa were readily listening in for updates and emergency calls, just like Isla.

Alessa was used to being an obedient agent and only receiving a mission she refused to fail. Even if she felt like Noah was treating them as his subordinates, he was being kind with his words. He didn't say 'I want you to do this and that'; he did say he was hoping they could help with this and that instead.

Even if Tabitha and Winona were also finding fault in the set-up, Alessa let it be. "Winona, Tabitha, and I will clear the witches and demons. Isla and Gianna will stay by your side."

"Works for me." Noah didn't complain. It's not like he had a reason not to let them come. He already asked for their help, and that was because he couldn't protect Luca if some strong enemy showed up. Mephisto came to his rescue twice already, and Noah felt bad about it.

"Hi, we haven't met yet." Gianna extended her hand and presented herself to Noah. "I'm Gianna Allsworth. Thank you for taking care of Luca when we cannot. I'm hoping we can be friends starting from today."

"Pleasure." Noah only smiled, but he didn't shake her hand. He didn't trust them enough to just hold their hand all of a sudden. There could be a trap in it, and he couldn't resist a level seven. Moreover, Lady Dione had taught him a very memorable lesson about readily accepting things.

"I'm happy you're not very trusting." Gianna pulled her hand back. "It could be dangerous if you just suddenly touch people who can seal your powers in an instant."

"Gianna, please don't do that." Luca frowned at his sister. Among the three, Isla was the most nonchalant about what happens to him while Gianna was the most affected. She would literally destroy things if she heard something bad happened to her brother.

How good was it that she accompanied Alessa to Italy a year ago?

Noah only stared at her, his smile turning cold. The same was happening to her expression as well. Alessa could only break their non-apparent staredown when she walked on ahead. "Do you have a path inside, or shall we break in?"

"I sent my hellhounds to survey the area all the way down. It's okay if we break in, but we might end up alarming them and getting the hostage killed. Let me show you something." Noah walked ahead next to Alessa and brought them to a wider spot in the alleyways.

A man was waiting for them, and he was surely shocked to see women with intimidating airs. Even if they seemed inauspicious in blending in with their white outfits, they seemed to wear the color as if it was a flag. However, he had seen Noah among them and spoke like what was relayed to him.

"Be careful down there. This is just a one-way portal to the first basement. That's as far as we can go unnoticed." He then bowed a little at them. "Please save Genie."