Chapter 2396 Mission

Chapter 2396 Mission

Emery had never truly been part of the military, and the constant summons, orders, and formalities were still a foreign experience for him. He had grown accustomed to leading his acolytes with more autonomy, making decisions based on their collective needs rather than some distant commander's whims. But here, in this tense and charged atmosphere of the Citadel, things were different. Every command carried weight, and every summons could mean something significant.

As he walked down the narrow, cold hallway toward the General's chamber, Emery's mind raced. He hoped the meeting wouldn't involve any further complications or additional burdens.

When he reached the door, it opened almost silently, revealing a dimly lit room. Stepping inside, Emery felt an immediate and instinctive tension ripple through him. Something was wrong; an unseen presence filled the air.

In the center of the room, General Wayne sat behind an imposing desk, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he looked up at Emery. But it wasn't just the General who caught his attention. Off to the side, another figure stood—a grand magus dressed in an intimidating dark uniform. The man's stance was casual, but his eyes held a glint of keen interest, scrutinizing Emery with unsettling intensity.

As Emery took in the presence of this stranger, he realized this man was suppressing his power, hiding his true strength. More alarmingly, Emery was certain he hadn't seen this grand magus among the city's defenders or in any of the prior meetings. Keeping his voice steady, Emery gave a respectful nod to the general, carefully masking his unease. "You were asking for me, General?"

The General didn't immediately respond, his fingers lightly tapping an information cube in front of him. "Emery Ambrose..." he murmured, "Top Hall Magus Academy instructor... at such a young age..." His gaze hardened a fraction, and he continued with a quiet, almost incredulous tone. "I wonder if this is what the Academy has become these days..."

Emery could feel the weight of the general's words. It wasn't hard to catch the hint: the general was either skeptical or dismissive of the academy's current standards, especially with someone as young as Emery rising through its ranks so quickly. But Emery remained silent, choosing not to engage with the implicit critique.

With the major signal, from the walls, floor, and ceiling, three grand magus realm figures materialized clad in dark, fitted uniforms, each one soundless, each presence seamlessly merging with the shadows. His instincts told him immediately who they were: members of a specialized covert unit. "We are the Ghostblade unit, and we need your assistance."

Emery listened carefully as the Major explained the situation. The Major had only recently arrived on the planet, but his role in the Ghostblade Unit had given him access to critical intelligence on the Valaryn situation. He revealed information that had not been disclosed in the previous briefing—an unsettling picture of the planet's real condition.

"The elves will launch an all-out attack within the week," the Major stated firmly. "If we do nothing, Valaryn will be lost."

The Major's mission was a bold one: to assassinate the elven commanders, sow chaos within their ranks, delay their attack, and hopefully shift the balance of the war. He was assembling a small, elite team of grand magus for the operation, and the reason he sought out Emery was clear—he needed Emery's expertise in spatial magic.

"With you on our team, our chances of success will improve greatly," the Major added, his expression intense with the weight of what was at stake.

Hearing the mission details, Emery felt a surge of temptation. The prospect of hunting dark elves stirred something deep within him. Despite the allure, Emery knew he had no real obligation to take part in such a perilous task. His primary responsibility now was to his acolytes, and the idea of leaving them exposed did not sit well with him. Choosing his words carefully, Emery subtly highlighted his temporary status within the military, using it as leverage in his conversation with the general.

"General... I understand the importance of the mission, but I'm deeply concerned for the safety of my acolytes" he said, a calculated tone in his voice.

With this choice of words, Emery able to negotiate terms that not only secured authority over the placement of his acolytes within the city, ensuring their safety, but he also managed to turn the general's attention toward Major Zoller. By the end, the general reprimanded Zoller sharply, much to Emery's quiet satisfaction.

Hours later, after leaving some instructions for Klea and his acolytes, Emery prepared himself to join the mission.