Chapter 67 Codename: Aurora (3)

Inside The Human Empire's security department office, located in the Dawn Pavilion where Ryan is…

Receiving a call from their mole in Aurora's main office, the head of the human empire's security department in Pavilion 384B focused on the camera in the lobby.

Sure enough, subject one was in the building.

'While today we have about 100 armed cultivators ready for an ambush awaiting those cultivators from the Zol'Gan Empire, they have that young sergeant in charge…'

'She's likely to mess up. I better go with the safer option.'

Deciding to call the front desk receptionist, who was just a regular employee of the Dawn Pavilion he said, "Bethan, a young man with black hair just entered the building. He is not a threat, but he is not welcome. Please have him politely trespassed immediately."

Back to Ryan's POV…

Walking over to the receptionist's desk, the pudgy guard bent over the counter, and the receptionist whispered something in his ear. He nodded and turned, walking back to Ryan. Holding out one arm he began ushering Ryan backward toward the entry doors.

"Well, sir," the pudgy guard said, "I am sorry to say that you need an appointment in order to walk through the building. You can arrange it with your school to access any architecture you would like in this building."

Wanting to buy more time, Ryan stopped, putting his hands on his hips, and in an exaggerated astonishment, exclaimed, "What? Make an appointment just to look at this?" Ryan's outstretched hand fanned around the room, indicating the beauty surrounding them. "I can see it right now, but if that was an innuendo.... sorry not interested!" he said, pretending to gag.

The pudgy guard clenched her teeth and signaled the other guard with a thumb, gesturing towards the door.

Guard one said, "Young man, as we said, there is a process that you need to take, and when you take that process, we will accommodate you with your own tour guide that can explain the architecture. Now we will see you when you return." All the while, both guards were backing Ryan to the door.

By this point, Ryan had been backed all the way into the door, the bar jabbing his back, and the second guard pushed the doors open, shoved Ryan out, and closed the doors. Both guards turned their backs and blocked his reentry to the glass doors.

Ryan yelled through the doors, "OK, thank you! See you soon. I'll be back. Can you tell me your names, and maybe you can help me with the tour?"

Waving his hands dismissively, Ryan turned around and darted back towards the trees, not really wanting the guards to chase him. Hopefully, he bought some time for Velmuuth to find the team and prevent the attack.

As he was ducking through the trees, he tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, too little success.

In the Woods Near the Dawn Pavilion…

Velmuuth hovered on her sword, her presence hidden by large trees. She hadn't heard anything from Ryan, nor had she seen her team. But, if there were a battle inside, most likely she would have sensed some commotion.

Velmuuth heard what sounded like birds heading in her direction. 'It's not migration time... Most birds have headed to the south part of the planet already. It must be my team.'

She pointed her sword toward the oncoming noise, hoping she could intercept the team before the attack.

The team flew in formation. They moved lightning quick; the wind whipped their faces and clothes around them, their bodies twisting in midair as they circled Velmuuth.

The leader pulled up her head, and everyone slowed, "Velmuuth, weren't you meant to meet us inside? Well it doesn't matter now, come let's go, we're already late," The leader said, turning to fly away.

"That doesn't matter now," Velmuuth yelled, "The plan has been compromised! You have to leave before it's too late!"

The low whispers of the other teammates turned into growls and curses.

The leader's face turned red. She screamed, "What! Did you tell them? Are you a leak? You're dead!"

Velmuuth flipped her off, "Bite me," she screamed back, "I don't know who told them, but my… friend overheard the security team. I'm not dead. You'll be dead if you had that direction, though. We have to come up with a new plan."

"Boss, V. isn't really known to lie," one of the riders said. "And we're sunk if the humans know the plan. Even the empress said this would only work if it were a surprise operation. We didn't even tell our people at Dawn about this attack."

"Is your position in the academy compromised?" The leader asked Velmuuth after hesitating a moment.

Velmuuth shook her head, "I don't believe so."

"You better be telling the truth about this. We'll investigate. If you just lied to me…"

"I didn't. Now go before it's too late."

Cursing, the team turned around and flew off.

Velmuuth slowly flew towards the building, looking for any hint of Ryan.

She heard a whooshing sound. Ready to fight, she swung in an arc and faced her enemy. Her smile broke out, "Ryan!" she exclaimed. "What happened?"

===

Aurora slipped through her portal, transporting herself to the lobby of the Dawn Pavilion. She couldn't wait to ask the beautiful black-haired boy some questions.

The lobby was busy as usual, but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Excuse me," Aurora banged on the desk, making the receptionist jump.

Flustered, the receptionist stammered, "Ma'am, we were not expecting you. Is everything alright?"

"Where's the young man?" Aurora barked.

"I-I'm sorry," stammered the receptionist, "what, young man?"

"The dark-haired young man that I specifically asked the guards to detain," she said, unconsciously releasing some of her aura.

"Ma'amm-," the receptionist gasped, her breath halting as her face turned pale from lack of oxygen.

Dismissing her aura, Aurora waited for the receptionist to catch her breath.

"I-I got the order to. . . send a black-haired. . . man out of the building by the Human Empire's security division," The receptionist said through gasping breaths.

'Human Empire? What do they have to do with that man?'

Aurora glared at the shaking receptionist. 'Could they have known that my sensors were targeting my son? No. They didn't know he was a cultivator.'

The receptionist squirmed under Aurora's wrath. She had no idea what to do.

Aurora's eyes hazed over. She didn't notice the quivering receptionist or the people walking around in the lobby. She was lost in her thoughts.

'They assumed I used the pill on myself because I happened to rank up to S-Rank right after the Nova Ball tournament,' she thought. The image of the baby she held in her arms 18 years ago was as clear today as when the event happened.

She was cradling her cooing baby, and as she was singing lullabies, she slipped the precious pill into the waiting mouth. A notification had then appeared in front of her…

[Congratulations: You are the first on this planet to use the Pill of Unlimited Power for its intended use.]

[Reward: Increase One Cultivation Rank]

no(????(e)lbi????.n(et

Since they don't know about him, this must be her. I was right she's a mole... hopefully she's still there. I haven't tortured anyone in thousands of years.

The haze lifted from Aurora's eyes as she again zeroed in on the receptionist, "So my secretary never called you?"