Chapter 14: Trouble and Ambition

Chapter 14: Trouble and Ambition

- Sora Heiwajima –

Many months had passed since the incident involving the stray devils, yet Sora's workload seemed to grow with each passing day, and he couldn't help but notice a few white hairs creeping into his blonde locks.

First and foremost, he continued his role as an English professor at Kuoh Academy. He maintained his friendships with his colleagues, whether engaging in friendly game nights with Junichirou, hitting the gym for workouts with Takeshi, or engaging in deep conversations with Noboru.

Upon Shizuka's request, he dedicated two to three days a week to training with her, helping her develop her skills. He also contemplated possibly gifting her a Digimon partner and a D-Tecter.

However, he couldn't ignore the fact that he seemed to have reached the limit of the number of Digimon he could create. He thought that maybe breaking through to the Ultimate Class might help him have more possibilities with his Sacred Gear. Sora also realized it would be a challenging promotion, even more so as a human. But he felt no rush, knowing that his path would take time and an opportunity.

In response to his conversation with Shizuka, Sora took action by assigning Renamon, Impmon, and Ninjamon to patrol the area around Kuoh. This decision came after he realized the vulnerability of the residents of Kuoh, especially his own family, to supernatural threats.

The reports provided by his Digimon left him speechless and frustrated. The sheer audacity of those stray devils and the avarice of devils intent on reincarnating his Digimon left a bitter taste in his mouth. He often found himself on the verge of marching to Serafall's doorstep to unleash all of his grievances. Still, his rational side always triumphed, preventing him from pursuing such an impulsive course of action.

Sora also made sure to spend quality time fishing with Azazel, who proved to be an invaluable source of information compared to his relatively new information-gathering Digimon Squad. Thanks to the internet and technology, they excelled at gathering missions on the human side, but the supernatural world presented more challenges.

Meanwhile, Sora's mercenary group gained significant notoriety, attracting more requests from sources beyond Grigori and the Yokais. Recently, he had been contemplating the idea of starting a business that could operate on both sides of the world.

Sora had a particularly ambitious vision for the video game sector in this world. He aimed to create a virtual reality headset akin to the ones seen in the Sword Art Online series from his previous world. 

He held firm confidence that such a project would succeed and be groundbreaking, primarily because he believed that nothing similar had been developed on either side of the world. He also had an ulterior motive in creating the VR. 

First, he could make a lot of money as this world wasn't short of gamers. He also wanted to experience the full dive gaming experience(sue me) and, more importantly, to find talented humans.

In short, the idea would be to find Sacred Gear users or unawakened ones and to recruit them under him. He can't let those gifted humans fall under the hands of others, can't he?

Furthermore, Sora was deeply aware of the pressing need for talented individuals to join his banner. While his Digimon companions were formidable, there were inherent limitations to what they could complete. Sora recognized that including capable humans would provide a vital, diverse skill set to complement the strengths of his Digimon, creating a more well-rounded and powerful team.

He might also pull a Dumbledore and create a school ala Hogwarts to train those talented individuals.

While Azazel, the fanatic Sacred Gear enthusiast, would be the perfect collaborator for this project. Unfortunately, being a Fallen Angel, not a human, made it a more complex partnership. For now, Sora considered postponing the idea of working alongside Azazel.

Shaking his head to clear these intricate thoughts, Sora realized that this project needed careful planning and preparation. It wasn't something he could jump into immediately. First, he had to lay the foundation, slowly but surely, before delving into the intricate details of making this ambitious vision a reality.

Despite the ever-growing demands on his time, his life remained relatively peaceful, and he treasured his last day of peace since today marked the beginning for him and his Digimon Faction.

With Azazel's assistance, he had successfully arranged a meeting with the Carmilla Faction, set to take place at a luxurious restaurant in Kyoto. Sora was also looking forward to the prospect of visiting Yasaka, as he genuinely missed her and the lively Kunou. She also seemed enthusiastic, persistently pestering Yasaka to play with him. 

His train of thought abruptly stopped as he received a mental link from Wizardmon. "Sora? Are you available?"

Sora promptly responded, "No, I've just wrapped up some business. What's going on? Do you have something to report?"

Wizardmon replied, "Indeed, you must recall those two stray devils we managed to capture. We've delved into their information, and it's rather alarming. I thought it best to inform you."

A deep furrow formed on Sora's brow as he swiftly made a decision. "Where are you right now? Are you at the Digi Lab?"

"Yes, Sora. I'm currently in Wisemon and Datamon's room," Wizardmon confirmed.

"Understood, wait for me there. I'll be on my way."

"Roger that, Sora."

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Sora quietly entered Wisemon's office, having made his way from the DigiLab. Inside, he found Wizardmon, Datamon, and Wisemon huddled together, engrossed in what seemed to be an intense discussion.

The trio raised their heads in unison as they noticed Sora's arrival.

"Greetings, Sora," Wisemon warmly welcomed him.

Sora returned the greeting with a nod and a smile. "Hello, Wisemon, Wizardmon, and Datamon. I came here after hearing the news from Wizardmon."

Recognizing the urgency in Sora's voice, Wisemon nodded in understanding and, with a gesture, indicated for Wizardmon to provide the details.

Wizardmon's tone remained grave as he continued to explain the situation. "As I mentioned during our previous conversation, after detaining the two stray devils, we delved deeper into the matter, and it appears that Kuoh might indeed be facing some looming trouble."

Sora leaned in, eager to understand the gravity of the situation. "Please, go on."

"Very well," Wizardmon nodded. "To confirm the information we extracted from the captured devils, I dispatched Leomon and Dorumon to conduct a fact-check. Unfortunately, the findings confirmed our suspicions. These devils were, in fact, former servants of the Oriax Heir. Their betrayal ultimately led to the heir's demise. It seems they were lured into betraying their master by promises of greater power from a devil whose identity remains unknown to us."

Sora's mind raced, recalling his previous encounter with the leader of the stray devils. "Could this power be the same one I faced when I confronted their leader alone?"

Wizardmon replied, "It's a possibility, Sora. Regrettably, we still possess limited information about that particular incident. Nevertheless, moving on, our investigation uncovered that they had a hideout in the sewers of Kuoh. Leomon and Dorumon scoured the area but found no trace of the devils themselves. However, they did discover remnants indicating that a group had indeed inhabited the sewers for a period of time."

Wizardmon sighed and continued, "The lower-ranking members we apprehended didn't possess significant information regarding the bigger picture. It seems that they were merely pawns, and the true motivations behind their actions and any potential allies in the town remain a mystery."

Sora absorbed this information, his concern growing. The situation appeared to be far more intricate and elusive than he had initially thought.

"Perhaps the descendants of the Satans of old?" Sora mused, his hypothesis aligning with the conclusions reached by the trio.

Wisemon, his expression reflecting a deep contemplation, spoke up, "It's a plausible theory, Sora. The involvement of descendants of the Satans of old is certainly a possibility. The desire for power and ambition might have led them to manipulate or recruit these stray devils for their own purposes. However, without concrete evidence, it remains a theory, and the true orchestrators behind these events continue to elude us."

Sora nodded in understanding, his thoughts aligning with Wisemon's assessment. "I get it, Wisemon. The lack of concrete evidence certainly complicates the situation. But we can't afford to sit idly and wait for more answers to fall into our laps. We'll need to be proactive."

Wisemon, Datamon, and Wizardmon all nodded in agreement. Wisemon added, "Indeed, Sora. We should continue our investigation, gather more information, and stay vigilant. The safety of Kuoh and its residents remains our top priority."

Turning to face the trio, Sora laid out the next step of their plan. "Datamon, I want you to implement a comprehensive surveillance system throughout town. We need to identify any suspicious individuals or activities. I don't believe they'll remain hidden for long."

Datamon nodded in acknowledgment. "Understood, Sora. I'll initiate the surveillance immediately."

Sora then directed his attention to Wizardmon. "Wizardmon, I'd like you to mobilize more Digimon to enhance security measures throughout the town. We need a visible presence to deter any potential threats and focus on gathering more information about these individuals."

Wizardmon responded promptly, "Of course, Sora. I'll get right to it."

Sora's eyes met Wisemon's, conveying the urgency of the situation. "Wisemon, I need you to create protective wards around Kuoh immediately. If you sense any sign of trouble or if the situation escalates, don't hesitate to call upon the assistance of the other magic Digimon."

Wisemon nodded, his expression determined. "It will be done, Sora."

With this additional measure, Sora aimed to ensure the safety of Kuoh and its residents, fortifying their defences in the face of potential threats, especially since he had to leave the town for his meeting.

Securing this alliance was pivotal for expediting his plan and fostering the growth of his Digimon. The alliance would provide valuable resources and strengthen their position in the supernatural world.

As Sora contemplated his preparations, the door swung open, and Mirei entered the room. Her presence was a timely reminder of the impending meeting with the Carmilla faction.

Mirei wasted no time in conveying her message. "Sora, your meeting with the Carmilla faction is fast approaching. You should get ready and consider which Digimon you'll bring with you for added support."

Sora acknowledged her reminder with a grateful nod. "Thank you for the heads up, Mirei."

Mirei smiled warmly. "No problem, Sora."

As Mirei exited the room, Sora found himself deep in thought, considering which of his Digimon companions he should bring to the important meeting.