Chapter 152 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [13] Iris Project Enters



A few minutes before Carlos Dugary's death…

At the far end of the fiftieth floor of the Enigma Dungeon was built a large room for the sake of the exam. This room was built as an information center where they would catch the current situation of all the groups via a receptor of the overseer responsible for each group. They had also installed cameras in several places to check on a few important points so the multiple screens showing in real time what was happening in most places of the tenth floor where the exam was held.

"How is it?" Professor Almona approached one of the staff who was typing on his keyboard while looking at the screens. "Mona? The ranking you mean?"

"Yes," Almona nodded and took a look at each screen. Most of the groups were advancing even though some groups seemed to struggle more than the others. 

"Hmm. Princess Aurora's group seemed to have the advantage with eleven Disaster-Beasts in their count. Following them closely is Loid Stormdila's group with ten, the group of the young lady of the Falkronas and Prince Alfred's group with nine each."

"I see…" Mona nodded but she didn't seem pleased by the good progress. "Maybe we should have formed the groups ourselves. They are too unbalanced."

"Right, even I didn't imagine that the best talents would end up in the same group," the staff said but soon a frown appeared on his face. "Hm?"

"What is it?" Mona leaned and asked.

"No, it's…three of our cameras on the forty-seventh floor have suddenly stopped working," the staff explained while typing quickly on his keyboard trying to understand what happened but to no avail.

"Which ones?" Mona asked.

"The one in the entrance and the other one on the green plains," the staff member said, holding his head.

Mona furrowed her brows upon knowing which cameras had stopped working. The one in the entrance and the one in the large green plains of the forty-seventh floor were both important points.

"I can take a look, if you want, Professor."

Mona turned around and saw a green-haired young man who was leaning on a wall. He was Marcus greenvern. Thomas Greevern's elder brother and Third Year student. He also volunteered to help but he wasn't on the ground but with the staff.

Mona hesitated. Marcus was among the top three of the Third Year and could go through these floors alone but she had somewhat a bad feeling about that.

"No," she shook her head. "It's dangerous even if you are strong, Marcus. Moreover you don't know how it works. We would have informed someone on that floor otherwise."

"Then I will accompany him, Professor Mona." The one who spoke was Professor Erwin, the homeroom teacher of the Pegasus Class and the man who had an obvious crush on her.

"Erwin…but."

"It will be alright. I promise I will take care of Marcus. He will graduate soon, it will be only good for him to learn more." Erwin reassured with a smile.

"I will count on you, Professor," Marcus nodded.

"Alright," finally Mona gave up.

"Then," Erwin nodded back and left with Marcus.

"..." Mona stared at Erwin's back for a while before shaking her head.

'I am overthinking.'

****

At the same time, on the 40th floor…

The fortieth floor—the floor where all groups were beginning was also guarded just in case some appeared and bothered the exam. They were here to repel the strangers but also acted like a receptor for some groups. Sharing the work between two groups divided on the 50th and 40th floor was the plan they came up with to deal with all the groups.

"Did you find Edward Falkrona?" A cold voice asked.

It was Professor Katia, the homeroom teacher of the First Year Phoenix Class. 

"U-Uhm…we are on it; Madam." The staff stuttered and continued to work hard to find the grey-haired boy who put him in the mess! 

A day ago, for some unknown reason, Edward Falkrona chose to part with his group. Liart, their overseer chose to focus on Alfred and the others since they were more numerous and Katia didn't have any objections to that. She would have done the same. It wasn't like they couldn't track Edward Falkrona anymore since there were cameras here and there but a few hours ago, on the 43th floor, Edward disappeared from their cameras. He had gone in a small blindspot but he should have already appeared in other cameras since then. 

"Find him quick." Katia said as her green eyes read all the screens.

Edward Falkrona was among the royal-targets to keep safe along with the Prince and Princess of the Celesta Kingdom. She was already aware of the why and knew that she had to keep him safe. 

Then remembering something, Katia turned toward another staff member. "Is Mr. Housy fine?"

"Yes, ma'am! He seemed to have gone through food poisoning but he is alright now. We replaced him and sent him back home."

"I see…" Katia nodded. "By whom?"

"Oh, It's Nico. He is watching over the forty-eighth floor."

"..." Katia didn't reply and looked at a message on a screen she received from Almona. 

[Cameras off on the 47th floor. I have sent Professor Erwin and Marcus Greenvern to fix them.]

'47th floor…'

"Professor Walter." Katia turned around.

Professor Walter Celesta was speaking to a staff member but shifted his gaze toward Katia. "Yes, Mrs. Katia?"

"You received a call from Dylan that Simon Falkrona and Carlos Dugary started to fight between them following a quarrel. Has the situation evolved?" She asked.

"Oh, indeed their fight is coming to an end. Sigh…the youth of today…" Walter shook his head with a smile.

"Could you ask Dylan to ask them to leave that place. It's a blindspot for our cameras." Katia asked seriously.

"Of course." Walter nodded with a smile and left.

….

Getting on his reserved seat, Walter's smile vanished. He took out a small sphere and channeled his mana.

"Are you here?" He asked.

[...yes.] A muffled voice answered.

"Are you in?"

[Yes.]

"I helped you to enter, I hope you did not forget the target." Walter asked coldly.

[The target is Aurora Avia Celesta.]

Walter's smile turned crooked at the man's words. 

"I want her death to be ruthless."

[...]

"Did you hear me? Don't forget that you all from [Iris Project] owe me."

[Fine. I will slaughter your niece's body and display her.]

"Good."

["Professor?"]

Suddenly his phone rang. 

It was Dylan's voice. A Second Year student.

"Dylan?"

["Yes, the fight between Simon Falkrona and Carlos Dugary just ended."]

"Who has won?"

["Simon but it was amazing…I think he is even stronger than me. No serious injuries by the way."]

"I see." He answered and hung up. "Useless puppet." He cursed and took back the sphere.

[Now, my turn. I want the location of two of your students. You know where all the students are.] The speaker didn't care about what he heard and requested.

"Who?" Walter asked without hesitating.

[Edward Falkrona.]

"Oh, that's a dangerous fish you are targeting." Walter couldn't help but smile. He knew that touching Edward Falkrona was an extremely dangerous idea. They would antagonize Thomen's giant army, Belle the strategist and it was only in the Celesta Kingdom. Outside that…

The Falkrona Main Household which was no different than courting death from monsters who nearly destroyed the continent a few years ago following an incident.

The second main threat would come from… Sancta Vedelia.

Walter sweated a little remembering the threat in question there if he harmed Edward.

[Tell me his location.] The man ignored Walter and asked impatiently.

Walter stealthily checked the screens there and shook his head. "We don't know the current location of Edward Falkrona. He seemed to be in a blindspot."

[...]

"Who is your other target?" Walter asked in a hurry. Katia was too smart and he feared that she might find out something.

[The eldest daughter of the Tempest Emperor.]

"The Monarch's daughter…?" Walter asked dumbfounded. 

'They are really courting death…'

Edward Falkrona and now…

[I want the exact location of Miranda Stormdila.]

"Alright…she is the overseer of Jayden Rayena's group. They are on the 45th floor. As for Aurora You will find her on the 44th floor but they might reach the 45th floor soon enough."

[That's all.]

"Wait." Before the man could hang up, Walter stopped him. "Refrain from calling from now on, Katia is managing the exam with me. She is disturbingly smart."

[Katia? She is on our black list.]

"Of course she is." Walter nodded. "Her elder sister is-"

[I know who she is. If she bothers you then just keep her busy with something else. If they discover what you have done, we wouldn't hesitate to kill you, Walter Celesta.] The call was cut off with those merciless words.

"Keep her busy with something else?" Walter gnashed his teeth. Then as if thinking about something, Walter opened his mouth. He took out a stone from his space ring. On it was a blood imprint. Without hesitating more, he broke the stone.

A minute later…

["P-Professor!"]

["Professor Walter!"]

"Dylan, what's happening there?" Walter asked, knowing well what was happening.

["I-I don't know! Something black oozed out of Carlos' body a-and! It's weird! I lost sight of Simon Falkrona and Lyra Kertalir! Please send help here! We are in the 42th floor-]

["Pro-Professor-"]

Walter, who was just enjoying all the screams from the other side, spoke finally. "Code Red, Carlos Dugary. Heed to my order and kill all the students."

["H-Hah…?"] 

["Professor W-Walter…?"]

("A-At c-command.")

Upon hearing Carlos' voice or what was remaining of him, Walter just waited.

After a few minutes…

"K-kr-kra…! M-M-Mira-" 

It was Dylan's voice.