Collecting Evidence

The clouds covered the sun midday. The dark and humid weather forecast minor thundershowers, a typical scenery in and around Luna city. Especially so in the surrounding forests where an elf with light blue eyes, almost like the clear sky, and darker waist-length hair of the same colour stood amidst the chaos of people running around. If anyone were to describe her it would suffice to sum it up as a 'vision of beauty'. Beauty comparable to that of Emilia's herself, someone whose beauty could already be referred to as divine. She is the former elven princess, Aurora.

The reason why I am standing in the centre of a bunch of people running around in the middle of the forest? Well, my beloved lord personally handed down me this mission to lead on-site investigation. That is to say, I must absolutely not fail. And thus, here I am co-ordinating the organization members investigations and cross checking all the information obtained. We have nearly gathered the basic information required, what I am waiting for now is Omega's report. Max sama gave us 4 hours to complete the investigations and its just been around 2 and half hours. The earlier we finish this and report it the better.

But I am worried whether Omega can finish her work properly. Its not because I doubt her skills and she is fairly intelligent, but if somehow she get's dragged in a fight...we'll definitely loose our cover or possibility of mounting a surprise attack. Don't get me wrong. She is a very efficient worker, that is, as long as she does not start to battle someone. I think she might have a split-personality. If someone so much as raises a sword towards her she would go berserk and start fighting. That is also to say that, while fighting her potential is very high.

Maybe I am worrying too much. After all, she obediently listens to anything Max sama or Emilia sama say. Although, only those two. She fights with me a lot, but I think of her as a little sister. Since this is a direct order from Max sama, she should be follow it finely. Though this childishness is what everyone likes about her.

"Everybody, wrap up and set up a temporary base of operations 4 km east of here, near the forest edge. Whichever order of Kronos base we end up attacking, that is the optimal point to set up a base of operations. The operation should start around 4-5 hours later." I shouted.

Hearing that everyone started getting ready to move to the designated location. Just when I was getting ready to leave and wait at the new site I just spoke about, a boy came to me.

"Aurora sama, we have just received a report that Omega sama will reach hear in 15 minutes. Please remain here." He reported.

"Very well."

Its about time. Let's report to Max sama quickly.

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"Max sama, Aurora and Omega have arrived to make the report." Emilia spoke to the boy sitting behind a desk in the office of the Stone family mansion.

"Oh, if I remember I gave 4 hours for the investigation. This is earlier than expected. Seems I was right to leave overseeing the inspection to you and Aurora. Let them in. We will begin the discussion immediately." He spoke narrowing his eyes, exuding a frightening yet alluring demeanour. Behaviour fitting one of the most powerful entities on this planet known as Nova as well as their boss, is what Emilia thought.

Soon the two elven girls entered the room. The one on the left was the same age as us, the elven princess Aurora. The one on the right was Omega, a girl of 12 years old with short silver hair and brown eyes. She is quite the troublemaker and only listens to me and Max sama. It seems she has also completed her mission successfully, given the gleam in her eyes and proud behaviour. I was honestly surprised when Max sama gave Omega one of the most important parts of the missions, because let's face it, she's a battle maniac. There is no better way to describe her.

"Aurora and Omega, very good work. You have exceeded my expectations and proven why you should and will be high ranking members of hell's gate in the future." He spoke again with the same demeanour.

"No at all. We don't deserve such praise." Aurora said calmly.

"You may deny however you want but facts are facts. Now, without delay, why don't we start with your findings?"

Aurora handed papers to me which contained reports on details of the investigation. I, in turn handed it down to Max sama.

"Hmm. Before we start discussing our plans, may I know whether you have determined the exact location where Nicole is?" He said while scrutinising the papers.

"I am afraid not. We have determined two possible locations. They are bases on two opposite sides of the edge of the forest, and thus we ave built a temporary base at this diverging point. The first seems to be a minor resource depot, though it is heavily guarded. But what makes this suspicious, is that it is located near the only path that would lead to the imperial capital. Based on these factors, we have determined it to be a possible location."

"What about the second?"

"As I said earlier, it lies on the opposite side. Adjacent to the path joining Luna city's sister city, Sol city. Since Sol city is a minor city with near to none importance except being a tourist spot, it seems unlikely like high ranking nobility who are possibly a part of the order would be present there. But this is one of the factors for choosing this location. The order is very cautious and don't leave loose ends. If you think about it, they can lay low near Sol city for a few days before departing to their desired destination. Out of all the bases that we have discovered during our investigation, this base is the only one that gives such a benefit. Most of the other bases are mediocre in security or lack anything that would incur importance." Aurora concluded her report of the bases.

"I see. The order would indeed not risk something as precious as a possible host of demonic synergy to escape their grasp. Your judgement in choosing these two bases as our primary focus was correct."

Hearing that, Aurora seemed to blush, but as usual Max sama did not notice.

"Max sama, if I may?" Omega spoke up for the first time. Its still adorable how she acts composed whenever in front of me or Max sama instead of her usual childish self.

"You may speak."

"I feel that the base near Sol city should be our focus. I told the reason to Aurora earlier but we just wanted to let you know about both bases before making any conclusions."

"What is it?"

"The base near Sol city has one of the 10 devil generals present there right now. Would this itself not signify Nicole sama being held there?"

I should mention, the 10 devil generals are the highest members of the order. They are second only to the demon lords themselves. Being hybrids between demons and humans, formed from the demon lords own mana and blood, they have very high physical and magical ability. They are currently leading the order the order of Kronos and are an indispensable resource for them.

"I agree with Omega. If this was some other organisation then they would have sent her to the base near the imperial capital in order to fool any people who might find leads and assault the bases. Also since the distance between the bases is not much for people like the devil generals who can use magic to bridge the gap easily, they would be able to support both bases. Meaning that, if someone attacked the Sol city base, they would walk to their doom and if they attacked the imperial capital base, all they would be doing is fighting mere foot soldiers and waiting for the devil general to come and defeat them." I gave my thoughts on the matter.

"I see. What you mean to say is that would be the ideal situation for anyone but the order. The order is too cautious to let hosts of demonic synergy wait in place which are less guarded instead of a place where they can be directly under a demonic generals eyes." He quickly analysed the meaning of my words. If Omega were the one in his position, I am pretty sure she would not have reached the same conclusion this quickly.

"As expected you would understand this quickly, Max sama." Aurora spoke up.

"You think too highly of me. Anyone would be able to draw the same conclusion if they were provided this analysis and information."

Really, Max sama is too humble considering his abilities and intelligence are worlds apart compared to everyone else.

"Omega, tell me who is this devil general present in the sol city base. Also, tell me the specifications of the base."

"Yes. He is the 9th seat of the devil generals, Tristan Spire."

"I see. Since he is the second from the bottom, I believe we have enough power to defeat his forces?"

"I think so. The amount of a demon lords power that a devil general has dictates their ranking in the devil generals and each of them have personal forces corresponding to their seating. Considering he is the 9th seat, I believe we actually hold the advantage when comparing the raw fire power." Aurora answered the question.

"That is what I assumed. So on that end, we should not be facing difficulties."

"As for specifications of their base. Emilia sama will explain that."

I went and place a rough blueprint that was made by the reconnaissance team earlier today. It indicated just the very basic structure of the base, but at this point of time it was more than we could hope for.

"Firstly, their are two entrance to the base on the opposite ends. The base itself consists of three levels, those being the ground level, first floor and what we believe to be a laboratory underground. They seem to be researching some sort of a parasitic organism. The entrance to the underground level can only be accessed from the rear entrance. The ground level seems to be a storage unit and acts as a camouflage for on looking passerby's. The first level is guarded by a powerful barrier so we could not gain much information on it. We believe it to be the base's operations rooms." I mentioned the key points regarding the base.

"Hmm...So the information on the underground level and first level is inadequate. Understood. This is what we will do-"

It seems Max sama has come up with the strategy for the operation. I as well as Aurora and Omega listened carefully.

"Firstly, Aurora will maintain rear support in the temporary base of operations that has been set up. She will also oversee the operation from the back and provide support when and if required."

Aurora nodded in understanding.

"Emilia will lead the actual attack from the front. Emilia use the alias 'Nu*' when leading the attack to prevent your identity being leaked. Omega and a unit of hand selected members will join you in the attack. You will be in charge of attacking the first and second floors. If you find Nicole, leave with her as quickly as possible."

"I understand. Me and Omega will do our best with this mission. What about you Max sama?"

"I will attack the laboratory alone. Remember to use magic transmission to relay messages to Aurora. If Nicole is found on your end inform me if I have not yet left the underground level. If you are stuck on your end, I will try to clear out the underground quickly and come up to where you are. Is that understood?"

"Yes. we will complete this mission flawlessly." All of us shouted together.

"I have mentioned this to Emilia earlier, but I wanted to fight against the Order after I entered an academy and hell's gate was near completion. After this battle, if the devil general is defeated, it will put hell's gate on the order's radar making it difficult for us to move at this stage of setting up the organization. Due to the circumstances it cannot be helped."

"We understand. What you meant to say is we need to be careful even after this battle, am I right?" I asked to confirm.

"Yes. This might be the first unexpected obstacle since we started amassing power, but it is nowhere near enough to halt our progress. Get ready quickly. We depart in 1 hour while the sun has not yet risen." He removed his coloured contact lenses and a surge of mana could be felt. If we had been enemies, it might have been enough to knock us unconscious.

"Understood. We shall complete preparations."

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*Nu (pronounced 'new' or 'nyuu')- 13th Letter of Greek Alphabet