Chapter 423: Operation Metro II

Chapter 423: Operation Metro II



***

In a much darker, more secluded room stood Lyra, her body barely visible, covered like usual under a cloak of black.

She seemed to be alone, the flickering light from a nearby holoscreen casting her shadow across the room.

Her red eyes glanced at a distant window, landing on the Tower of the Academy which rose high to the sky.

She was a few buildings away from the Academy, far from the halls and their students, yet due to her vantage point they were clear as day.

This room she was in was within the few apartment complexes that surrounded the Academy's walls, using it as guaranteed protection.

It was a hotspot for crime, as there was no better place to get away with illegality than right under the UEF's nose.

As the saying went, the safest place to hide was always in plain sight, and nowhere was plainer than the heart of the beast.

This 'beast' was observant, aware of the dealings happening within, but it never interfered, preferring to watch instead, adopting Amon's strategy of maintaining control.

So there was a mutual understanding between lawbreakers and enforcers, though never openly acknowledged.

This naturally made the area the safest place to commit crimes, but of course, this only held true as long as certain lines weren't crossed.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The owners of these places didn't mind either, most of them being compensated for their show of ignorance, but not all of them were like that.

While the world was certainly twisted, the pure hearted like Xavier and the monocle wearing gentleman still existed to this day and they...

Well, they were the ones truly ignorant.

Such things were hidden from them, so no reports took place.

After all, the closer one was to the lion's den, the less likely they'd be suspected of being a thief.

Heh...

Turning around, Lyra exited the room and entered another, a king-sized bed in the middle. She then pulled back the sheets and a figure appeared, wires stuck to their neck.

Lyra didn't know if they were a man or woman, their entire body was metal, especially the neck, where an external inlet was fitted.

Since the start, she figured this person to be a Netweaver, and they were the one who had most likely given Templar detailed information.

The Praying Lady had her prophecies, but, as written in the 'novel,' they weren't detailed, only giving vague information about events.

This vagueness increased whenever the fate behind the event was heavy or unique, which was why she was able to find out the date when Earth's Aether would increase.

That fate had a bright star and was light in weight due to its common nature.

At least, that last part was what Emir had assumed.

Now, the person in front of Lyra was dead, as she had appeared to have immediately killed them the moment she snuck into this apartment, their blood cold and coagulated.

face hard enough to redden it.

The guard stirred, jerking awake with a trembling gasp, though it was muffled by the

restraints over his mouth.

His eyes darted around in panic, but there was no escape-only the cold, silent stares of those who had brought him back to consciousness.

Without giving him any time to understand what was happening, she began to speak:

"So... you've done what was asked of you and betrayed the Academy. Unknowingly or not,

willingly or not, it doesn't matter. Your past self made that decision."

Kneeling closer, she flicked her right wrist, and a gauntlet blade sprouted, gleaming under the

dim light.

"But don't think for a second that your part in this is over."

The blade's tip touched his face causing blood to flow as he tried to move away, but the

cloaked man didn't allow him, holding him down.

"You will continue to serve."

Her tone left no room for argument, but it didn't seem like the man would even try to do that.

He had given up.

"If you don't, you'll die a really... slow... death. But if you do, then I'm sure your death will be

a sweat as this blood you're leaking."

Lyra stood up and turned away, dismissing the man with a wave of her hand.

As she walked out, another two shadowy men approached, entering the room behind her.

"Get him to talk and kill himself. Check the netweaver's brain, we need to find out when and

where they'll meet."

They stepped on the ground at her command.

"Yes, Sir!"

The "plot holes" were beginning to fill in, piece by piece, and Lyra was determined to uncover

every single one of them...

It was her prince's command.