The mbers of the Mystic Investigation Division, who had returned with their spoils, faced an unexpected situation.
"The elevator has been destroyed..."
Hearing the report from the contact at the forward base of the safety zone, Lera felt a slight headache. The plan had encountered a setback.
She raised the threat level of the Union eting in her mind. She had underestimated the hordes of beggars, but their madness had to be acknowledged.
She never expected such a large-scale incident. Now, the plan to secure the Vision Prism and head straight to the gate had fallen apart.
The bigger problem was sothing else.
"We are currently conducting security checks at the forward base entrance. The various small and dium clans inside are also carefully inspecting all people and vehicles approaching."
A more thorough checkpoint search was being carried out on all vehicles and people heading to the forward base in the safety zone than usual.
That wasn’t all. As news of the elevator collapse spread through people and wired communications, the workers began to sense the danger and were returning to base.
To exaggerate, the area around the forward base wall and entrance was as crowded as a highway during peak vacation season. There were too many eyes on them.
"Our plan hasn’t been exposed, has it?"
"Fortunately, no. It seems the fanatical mbers of the Union eting were preparing their ritual with the Vision Prism here. All eyes are on them."
That was a relief. Their plan and their cover identities had not been exposed yet. For now, they were using the na of the Paper Clan to be here.
The Magna Nabis mbers held an ergency eting to discuss their next move.
"As everyone knows, Plan 1 is not feasible in the current situation."
As Lera spoke, everyone looked at her with agreent in their eyes.
The plan to disguise themselves as cargo and cross through the gate was no longer possible. The artifact was too large to conceal with magic, and there was a high chance that the usual cover-up thods would be exposed.
"The problem is what plan we proceed with. How about Plan 4? I know it’s a contingency plan, but isn’t it ti to reconsider?"
When the voice of the Vanguard commander, mixed with chanical sounds, rang out, so of the mbers flinched and looked at him. It wasn’t just because of the chanical noise—it was because of the radical nature of the plan.
"Excuse , but even the Vanguard... um, sorry, I didn’t an to..."
One male mber raised an objection, only to shrink back under the commanding officer’s intense gaze. The officer snickered and continued speaking.
"Do you really think it’s impossible? Don’t worry about it."
The Vanguard commander pointed behind him with his thumb. The Mystic Investigation Division mbers, the fixers, and the Vanguard agents were all moving busily.
"With our current strength, it’s more than possible. Do you know how many tis I’ve done sothing like this before? The calculations are already done. Most of the personnel at the forward base are non-awakened laborers or low-level hunters. It won’t take long."
Objections poured in about the radical plan.
"But, the enemy isn’t just them, right? The main Federal Army forces are approaching from the rear! How are we supposed to deal with their tank units? If we’re not careful, we’ll be caught between the forward base and the chanized forces. Also, what if our identities are exposed during the fighting? Let’s go with Plan 2. If we wait, the elevator will be repaired in a day or two. Let’s wait for the main forces."
Soone voiced their opinion. A mber on the opposite side waved their hand dismissively.
"Those fanatical bastards are after the Prism, too. What will we do if we hide it and they take it away? Don’t forget. Because of the ongoing project at the Academy, we need to get this within the right tifra. Let’s go with Plan 3. We’ve got jetpacks and bikes on standby for just such a situation. And we all know how to use flight magic."
"So, you want to hide? It’s obvious it’ll be discovered sooner or later. We need to take them out one by one right now!"
The ergency eting grew more heated as voices began to rise. Lera, who had been silently thinking, finally spoke up quietly.
"Everyone, there’s a better way. We should hand over the Prism to the Federal Army."
At this unexpected suggestion, everyone looked at her. Lera calmly continued her explanation.
"If the Vision Prism falls into the hands of ordinary people, they’ll definitely try to destroy or dismantle it. But if it’s the Federal Army, they won’t just let the artifact get destroyed. According to the intelligence, their goal is to secure the artifact, not destroy it."
"Are you suggesting we just give it away? That precious thing? Of course, it’s not urgently needed for the project, but it’s an order from the Mage. You know that, right?"
"Of course, I’m not suggesting we just hand it over. We’ll use the power of the Vision Prism."
"...What do you an by that?"
"We’ll activate the artifact and then hand it over."
She reminded the Mystic Investigation Division mbers of their capabilities. If they mobilized the researchers to inject a small amount of magic into the Vision Prism, and added appropriate spells and magical engineering components, they could neutralize all lifeforms within a radius of several hundred ters. Everyone was impressed by the explanation.
The Vanguard commander, who had been listening, clapped his hands briefly in interest.
"So you want to use it like a remote-controlled bomb?"
"Exactly. If our assumptions are correct, the Federal Army will never hand over the artifact. Whether the elevator is repaired, or the artifact is being transported outside the gate, we can activate it at the mont that suits us."
The Federal Army, for their part, couldn’t afford to be completely legitimate either. They wouldn’t cooperate in destroying the artifact.
And when the opportunity arises, they could use the artifact’s power to neutralize the enemy and retrieve it again.
After hearing Lera’s suggestion, everyone agreed that it was a solid plan. Once the eting ended, the mbers hurriedly began preparations to withdraw. Other mbers started modifying the Vision Prism.
In front of the Prism, a female mber, having heard the order from her superior, was frowning and refusing to begin the work.
"You want to activate the Vision Prism? That’s too dangerous. I haven’t even figured out all the chanisms yet. Artifacts don’t work just by thinking about them. Magic power is—"
Bored with the lengthy explanation typical of soone from a technical background, one of the male mbers slapped her on the back of the head.
"Shut up and start working! We’re just going to knock them out anyway, what’s the problem?"
The shock caused her brown ponytail to sway. She groaned, clutching the back of her head.
"T-to a person... If we’re not careful, this might not just knock them out..."
"Stop pretending to be nice, you knew exactly what you were getting into when you joined. Get moving!"
The pressure from the superior made the team hesitate, but they started the operation.
Inside the moving command armored vehicle, Major Marius was furious, berating his subordinates over the radio.
“Find it now! If you can’t find it, it’s the day we both take off our military uniforms. Understand?”
After giving the order, Major Marius slumped into his chair.
"Damn it! I had such a rare opportunity..."
Around him, the so-called "illegal cult organization purge" was being broadcast, but the real mission of the Federation Army’s 60th Mobile Combat Battalion was sothing else entirely. It was to secure the Vision Prism.
"If it gets scratched even a little, it’s a big problem..."
He thought about the instructions from his superiors. If this mission was completed successfully, he could move up to a higher position.
Then, his superior had casually ntioned a few words. It was a secret weapon project.
The security docunts given to him were covered in black lines, making it impossible to discern the specifics of the plan. However, understanding the objective was enough.
The Vision Prism would beco a powerful weapon. A trump card that could deal a blow to the Four Great Clans and the beasts. It was a strategic weapon that couldn’t be compared to nuclear or electromagnetic weapons.
"I don’t know what the higher-ups are planning to make, but it must be an amazing weapon. Those damn clan bastards will tremble when they see it."
As he thought about his past life as a lowly hunter, looked down upon, he briefly grimaced.
"Anyway, my stupid subordinates better do their job properly..."
He thought. The non-awakened soldiers were too slow. Even though they were equipped with expensive gear like railguns and exoskeletons, they still got killed at the slightest mistake.
Team Leader! We found the artifact!
When the report ca in, the Major smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Good. Secure it and move to the safe zone imdiately!"
After eating and taking a walk around, Violet No. 451 saw so people arguing at the entrance of the forward base.
“What’s going on there?”
Since the Atlas Clan had increased the security checks, the entrance had long been decorated with the angry voices of people. Using X-ray machines, tal detectors, mirrors, all sorts of magical equipnt, and rituals made the process take a long ti. It was no surprise that people were irritated.
However, this ti, the situation was a little different.
“That’s a tank!”
To his surprise, the entrance was lined with Federation vehicles. In the front, there were even tanks.
“You know the regulations. This is the Vision Prism! Hand it over imdiately. It must be destroyed!”
The Clan mbers were in a standoff with the soldiers. In the front, there was Major Marius, the old man they saw yesterday.
The Major raised his pistol and shouted loudly.
“This is Federation property! Don’t you know that the ownership of dungeon artifacts goes to the first person to find them? You all are suspicious. Are you even hunters?”
“That applies to regular artifacts, not this one. This is a dangerous item! We just need to dismantle it here. What’s the problem?”
“So, once the elevator is fixed, you plan to go up and dismantle it in the military base, right? Safely!”
“If we go outside the gate, the city is just around the corner! What if it explodes during transport?”
“You can call for a transport helicopter, you idiots. Get out of the way right now!”
While the soldiers were arguing, the Violets felt an odd vibration.
“What is that?”
From beyond the passage, strange creatures were gathering. Violet No. 642, who had been waiting outside the forward base, scread in surprise.
“It’s a beast! Aaaah!”
After the report, Violet No. 642 was swallowed by a black, slimy mass and died instantly.
It was a higher-level beast, Noxterror. Seeing the beasts flood in like a tidal wave, the Federation soldiers and the Clan mbers hastily stopped fighting.
Then, in the next mont, I couldn’t help but be horrified. A strange person in a pointed hat was riding on top of the Noxterror.
“A beast rider?”
I shouted in surprise.
“Irene! Daphne! Look over there. It’s a beast rider!”
Looking closely, there were people riding on the beasts.
The sli rider, wearing a pointed hat, swung a flaming sword and shouted in a booming voice that echoed through the dungeon.
“Heretics! Unbelievers! Fear! The ti of ascension has co!”
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