Chapter 80: Caught

A smile appeared on Flourance's face as he smashed his hand on the table. "That's it! We got him! Lucifer Azrael- son of the Strongest Warlock Zale Azarel!" 

"Attention, everyone. Our target has just entered the city. We hadn't expected the rain but the plan shall be the same! I don't want any mistakes. He shouldn't be suspicious. The ones that make mistakes won't be forgiven!" Flourance told his men in complete seriousness.

....

Lucifer walked on the roads of the city, which were mostly empty. He thought it was empty because of the rain, not knowing that it was empty because the city was abandoned entirely. 

Most of the people living in the city were told to migrate outside for a little while. The only people that were still inside the city were APF members.

He could only see a few shops that were still open in the surroundings.

"The target has left spot 7. He is advancing towards spot 6."

The shops that were still open didn't have commoners. They had delta squad Members in disguise that were updating about Lucifer's location to others.

"Yes. As soon as he reaches spot 0, it will be over. Get ready. He should be approaching one of you very soon. Your goal is to bring him to spot 0."

Flourance was giving commands to everyone, directing them on what to do from the surveillance room. 

Just as he had described, Lucifer was thinking of doing the same.

"I need to ask someone," Lucifer lamented as he started walking towards one of the shops that were still open.

He entered the shop and approached the shop owner.

"There should be a large research facility nearby. Where is it?" he asked the middle-aged Shop Owner who was a Delta Squad Variant in disguise.

"Oh, that facility. Yeah, it's nearby. Go straight for…" the middle-aged man started giving directions to Lucifer.

After getting directions in detail, Lucifer left the shop.

After Lucifer left, the middle-aged man updated Flourance on the situation.

"The Target just approached me. I gave him the directions of spot 0. Everything is going according to the plan."

"That's good. It won't take long before he is within our grasp. We will catch him without any casualty," Flourance replied as a shrewd smile appeared on his face.

Lucifer walked towards the center of the city according to the directions he was conveyed. 

As he moved further, he noticed a few shop owners occasionally glancing at him. 

He looked down and realized that he was bare-chested. He didn't find it strange that people were glancing at him, but he did find it odd that they were only taking a single glance, that too, carefully, trying not to get noticed.

"The target is just a hundred steps away from spot 0. The eyes are on the target. He seems to be getting suspicious."

"He might have noticed something strange. Everyone, pretend to be ignorant. Don't look towards him." One of the Delta Squad members noticed the frown on Lucifer's face. He told everyone to stay alert.

Flourance got even more serious as he heard the observation of his men. They were so close to their aim. If Lucifer did something stupid now, their plan might fall flat. 

Lucifer couldn't take his suspicions anymore. He stopped moving forward and turned to his left. He started walking towards the shop on his left, which was still open.

"Leader, the target is turning left. He is going towards Markel."

The shop owner, towards whom Lucifer was walking, stopped talking and shifted his focus to the television to seem less suspicious. The owner of the shop on Lucifer's right updated Flourance of what was happening.

"Markel, be careful. Remember. You don't know who Lucifer is. For you, he is just a poor random kid. Act accordingly. We are so close. Everything depends on you now," Flourance advised in full seriousness.

....

Markel stopped looking at the TV and shifted to look towards Lucifer, who was standing in front of him.

"Hmm? Kid, do you need anything? You don't even have a shirt. Looking at your condition, I don't think you can afford anything in my shop. Try some other place. Don't waste my time," Markel said to Lucifer, condescendingly.

After saying that, he stopped looking at Lucifer and again started looking at the television.

Lucifer observed the man for a brief moment before nodding his head. He found this reaction to be expected.

"Where is Xander?" Lucifer asked in a casual tone.

"He left the city, yes-" Markel blurted out without thinking, but it was too late by the time he realized it. 

"You Idiot!" Flourance cursed, hearing their exchange through the comms. He understood that Lucifer had realized everything.

"All units move out this instant! The target knows everything. Our goal is still to get him to spot 0, but it would be more bloody now. Prepare for a War!" Flourance thundered as he ran out of the surveillance room. He left the building and ran towards Lucifer in the heavy rain.

As he ran, he called the Delta Squad's true leader, Xander, who was within Ikrego city, battling Dungeon Dwellers.

....

An orb of white light flew towards Xander at a lightning-fast speed. 

Reacting fast, Xander jumped to the side, successfully dodging the orb of light. The orb of light crashed on the ground, creating a powerful blast that left a crater on the ground. Smoke spread everywhere as the rain tried to extinguish the flames of the explosion.

A Silver Tiger walked through the dense mist, trying to find Xander.

"Looking for me?" 

A manly voice came from nearby.

The Silver Tiger looked to his left and saw a shadow appear within the mist.

A hand came out of the mist, which brought a rain of blazing hot flames that burnt the silver Tiger.

The Silver Tiger roared in pain as its flesh burnt. The Silver Tiger started getting away from the flames trying to save itself, but the flames didn't leave it until it died.

"This is the first. I wonder how many more are here," Xander muttered when his phone started ringing.