Chapter 234 | TIMESKIP: Part Twenty Two - The Purge

Chapter 234 | TIMESKIP: Part Twenty Two - The Purge

Operation Clavus was the purging of all gang-related elements in the slums of Dawn City. Its operatives consisted of the Special Response Division, who was personally ordered by the Dragon of Liberation to capture the hostiles residing within the slums.

It was the first mission of the Special Response Division for the past three months. But from the looks of it, things weren't going well for the operatives within the slums. Urban warfare was a much more complicated problem than they had expected.

There was also the usual hesitance as they were afraid to raise their arms against the people they considered as their own. It was a strange stance, and a foolish one. For an organization that seemed ready to fight against the Colonial Dominions of Humanity, they couldn't even fight against their own.

It makes them a niche, which wasn't good for the versatile doctrine of the United Military.

Anyhow, since the beginning of the purge, designated sectors throughout the slums were riddled with conflicts between the division and the gangs. The beastfolks were quite determined in fighting against the operatives of the World Government, willing to sacrifice themselves for their gangs.

The situation further worsened when seemingly innocent families were nothing more but planted dangerous elements of the gangs, backstabbing operatives who were evacuating them into safety. The status of the operation was severe, and naturally, the Dragon of Liberation must step in.

The purging operation started as nothing more but a test for the Special Response Division. Laplace wanted to understand the current status of her organization, whether its combat capabilities had degraded or not since her departure.

From the situation at hand, it seems to be the former. The Special Response Division has degraded, their capabilities akin to the locally trained swat personnel of the DPD, or the Dawn Police Department. It was a disappointing sight, but an understandable one.

The policies integrated by Espada into the Special Response Division was self-destructive. Laplace didn't know what had gone through the mind of the giant Minokin. She trusted him as one of the most experienced members, and to think that he would fall this far.

Laplace quietly thought to herself before disappearing from the rooftop of the building. She quickly arrived at the bottom, appearing amidst the gathering gang members of the slums. She had always been curious about how such gangs had managed to form.

It was also somewhat surprising for its members to be loyal to them. It signified that the control of the gangs in the slums were far greater than what she had expected. It wasn't a natural loyalty, yet it appears as so. "My brothers and sisters! We will fight against the tyranny of the World Government! They think we are mere insects that they can trample upon with ease. But we are much more than that!" The gang leader raised his hands as his members followed.

"These weapons we have acquired will turn the tides of this war. With this, we can control the slums, maintaining our authority over it. Not even the United World Government will be able to touch u-" The gang leader couldn't continue as all of the members disintegrated in mere moments. They couldn't even react as nothing more but their ashes were left behind in the small square. The gang leader felt shivers in his spine as he turned his gaze towards the culprit of the massacre. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he quickly call forth a spell.

It was a much more different spell, a mind-control spell.

"You bastard!" The gang leader yelled as he tried linking with the mind of the lady before him, trying to gain control over it. However, the link fractured before it could even reach the dragoness, as it melted into nothing more but mana.

"Wha-" The beastfolk was obviously surprised for the spell to be ineffective. It had always worked even if his enemies were much stronger than him. Meanwhile, the edges of Laplace's lips rose as she muttered to herself. "I finally understand now."

"The degradation of society, the uselessness of my organization, and the intense loyalty..."

"A conspiracy, huh?"

"Interesting."

The dragoness was excited as she felt her blood boiling for violence and dominion.