Recruitment - Ride Along

"Welcome back, Chris"

Philip welcomed Chris as he got out of the vehicle

"It has been a few weeks. Are you willing to talk to us now?"

"Yes"

There was a silence between them after a short talk

"Aren't you going to invite us inside?"

Chris asked with confusion

"Here is fine! You're just going to recruit me temporarily, right? We're ready to go"

Chris was slightly surprided but it was as expected from someone who was chosen by the Old Man

"Very well, I'll be recruiting you in a very secret and dangerous mission that will put the world at stake"

"It's about that unstable Mana Hotspot, isn't it?"

Philip asked directly to which Chris looked around the area to see who's present. He could only see Justine next to Philip and Alucard and Sai overlooking from the windown in a room

Veronica shrugged off the fact that Philip knew about the unstable Mana Hotspot. They can't put any suspicion on him if he has a spy or not because the Old Man vouches for him. That was enough to trust Philip. Besides, it must have something to do with his abilities

"I can't confirm anything around here"

"Alright, I accept the recruitment"

"Very good! Follow us here"

Chris pointed at the bulky military jeep as he started to walk with Veronica

"Wait!"

Philip called for Chris to which he turned his head around and looked at Philip from the corner of his left eye

"I'll come under one condition"

"And what is that?"

"Justine must come with me"

Chris then looked at Veronica for confirmation. She didn't respond and just looked at Chris with uncertain eyes

"I can't see any problems with her coming. She can come"

"Thank you"

Philip thanked Chris and Justine smiled with excitement and happiness. It was because Philip went out of his way and flat out asked Chris and that he was watching out for her this entire time. She was slightly flattered

Before Philip and Justine are about to ride the vehicle, Alucard floated down from his window and went toward Philip

"Philip, I finished the list"

Alucard then reached the notepad full of the Pureblood abilities towards Philip

"Okay, thank you"

Philip turned back around only to see Chris, Veronica, and the soldiers blocking their ears with their hands and hiding behind each other

"By the way, Alucard, Justine and I will be gone for a while, maybe a day or two. Tell Jude and Mathilda since we have no time, this is urgent"

Philip told Alucard in a serious tone. Alucard also became serious after reading the hidden meaning behind Philip's words. It's all about his Future Vision and Fate Control and Alucard understands that clearly

"Alucard, the next several hours to a day is going to be chaotic. I want you, Sai, Jude, and Mathilda to protect the mansion the best that you can while me and Justine, possibly this squadron, take care of everything at the front. Good luck, Alucard"

Philip then turned around and boarded the vehicle with Justine. He then giggled in his mind seeing the military panic after hearing Alucard's voice. He decided to read the list of Pureblood abilities along the way or after Chris talks to them

However, Chris was surprised. He was confused as to why they were not affected by Alucard's voice when he is known for trembling the soul whenever he speaks. What happened to him? What changed? Also, Alucard seemed happier and satisfied and there is also a mysterious little girl in Alucard's room, overlooking the window

These thoughts ran in Chris' mind. He always monitors the mansion and asks the Old Man on information about them. It just hit him that what if there are much more mysteries that the mansion hides

He decided that he would extract more information from Philip, but it would be hard because Justine is around. He should have refused to let Justine come but it's too late now

Chris and Veronica's eyes met and they nodded to each other. They then boarded the vehicle. They sat on one side, opposite from Philip and Justine. It's like they are in a carriage in a fantasy setting, but they're in a metallic carriage with a roaring engine and guns

"We're going to brief you about the mission..."

Chris started the conversation by telling Philip more about the mission

"Just give me the summary for now"

"I could just tell you everything right now"

"Then you have to repeat yourself during the meeting with your squadron, don't you?"

"You have a point..."

The reason as to why Philip wanted for Chris to tell everything during the meeting with his squadron is because Philip wanted to observe the swuadron members. He also wanted to listen to their inputs and opinions. In that way, Philip will have an idea of their behavior and attitude

Then, Philip will know how to handle them when they work together. He also feels like this arc is somewhat important and the Fates of the squadron members will appear in the Fate Timeline. It's just his hunch though

It will also tell him if he could trust the squadron members and if one or some of them are worthy of his praise and a potential additional member of the mansion when the aftermath of the event today or tomorrow

"Okay, to summarize... There's an unstable Mana Hotspot near Los Angeles. The flow of Mana around is to dense and pure that machines were being disabled when we get close. Fortunately, cameras and long distance recorders can still penetrate through"

"The unstable Mana Hotspot continues to grow and create a large hoel with massive Mana Stones embedded on the ground. The ground zero is turning into a forest of Mana Stones, likr an enchanted forest or mountain"

Veronica continued after Chris

"So, the mission is to explore the area, find the ground zero, go inside, and find a way to control and make the Mana Hotspot stable"

Philip listened closely to their long summarization of the mission. Chris and Veronica told him the whole mission anyways and didn't simplified it into less words

"Why do we have to do this? Why not the higher beings and leaders of the Secret Organizations or the Mystical Academy?"

Philip ask an important question, to which Chris and Veronica were surprised. Not only Philip knew the existence of the Mana Hotspots as a civilian and that he was taken in by the Mystical Academy for a few days, he also knew about the existence of the Secret Organizations

As to how he knew about the supposed division of the world, they wouldn't know. Unless, Justine told him about them or the Old Man directly told him about it

That was most likely the reason

"It's because the leaders of the Secret Organizations are busy with their own work and problems circulating around the world. They almost have no time as they need work almost five times at the same time"

"Even if the world is at stake, as you have said?"

"That's why we exist. There are hundreds of military squadrons stationed around the world. This squadron is the Los Angeles Division and the name is HK-5, short for Heaven's Keep with five members"

Philip nodded while listening to Chris. He didn't know anything about the squadron divisions but he was interested in the naming sense of the Los Angeles Division

Also, he understood why the leaders of he Secret Organizations are busy. They are called secret for a reason. Although, Philip are having second thoughts if the leaders of the Secret Organizations are actually busy or not

Somewhere in a hidden place, Anonymous sneezed from out of nowhere while listening to their conversation. He laid back and place his feet on the desk while eating a bag of chips

"Can I know the squadron members?"

"Hm... I guess you should learn about them when you meet them or during the meeting"

Chris smirked at Philip to which he shrugged at. Philip knew that Chris is trying to be snarky but he didn't care

"How much longer until we're going to arrive at our destination?"

"Around 30 minutes or so"

"Alright then..."

It was then that the interior of the vehicle was filled with silence. Chris crossed his large muscular arms and rested his eyes. It was the same for Veronica as she closed her legs and rested her hands above her knees. She emitted an aura of a true secretary with her blue hair tied into a ponytail and black framed eyeglasses

Justine was also listening as she was looking outside the window and admiring the scenery. Unknown to everyone, Justine's pupils have a swirling energy circling around her eyes

Meanwhile, Philip looked around and expanded her self-awareness to review the escort of military vehicles

Unlike a few weeks ago, the entourage has two military jeeps that has been modified into a stronger metal and alloy, two pairs of military bikes that resembles police bikes, and an all black undercover top sleek sports car, a Chevy Croquette, that is monitoring the surroundings from way back behind the entourage

But it being all black and an expensive car that will attract the eyes of many while cruising through the streets and highway, Philip questioned if it's truly undercover

It was then that he looked down in the notepad that Alucard gave him on his hands. He decided to read it along the way and opened it