Once back into the capital using magic were able to disguise our faces and clothes.
(Thankfully a new technique Kadachi learned called link, but it has its limits. I have to be in a 60-foot range of him and anything out of it he can't reach and from then he has to link our energy to his. I should thank him for thinking of this ahead of time.)
I pull my mask up over my nose and look over to Kirito who nods.
(The meet-up should be at this tavern up ahead.)
the snow below our feet crunches as I stop seeing the tavern sign up ahead along with a lot of people standing around the front along with some suspicious men in suits. I casually step into the ally with the others following behind.
"Either I'm being paranoid or this just doesn't feel right, Kirito-"
Suzaku steps in front of me.
"Don't worry, this is where we part ways well take the front and see what's up, it's clear something is up, just go to the safe house, and will meet there later."
Kirito and I nod but Kirito grabs Suzaku's wrist before he walks off.
"Don't do anything stupid, it's still too early to draw any attention."
Suzaku smirks.
"What do ya take us for? Idiots? Go now before you get us caught Mr hot head."
Kirito chuckles and they run off, Kirito and I take the ally way back to the safe house, and upon scoping it out and seeing nothing amiss we begin to set up in the living room.
"When we infiltrate the capital where do you think the president and government officials will be?"
Kirito tosses me a map and I unroll it revealing a detailed diagram.
"That the latest detailed structure plans of the building, seeing as they may be forced to work together they should all be in their usual spots, but if they aren't then they will be in the underground prison along with several hundreds of mass murders and life-long sentenced criminals."
I hesitate and put the map down having a flashback of walking down the halls of an underground place where people were trapped behind bars reaching their hands out for food, as I look up I see my father with a grim face. Then the flashback ends.
"Um."
(Why was I there, and why was my father also there?)
Kirito sets a small backpack down in front of me.
"This will be your bag when we infiltrate through the underground passageway there."
He points to a spot in the nearby woods outside of the capital walls.
"There will be a series of tunnels that are already marked for us to go through, well reach the prison first, make our way into the storage room get a change of clothes, rescue the nearby citizens, and eliminate Rode and the others. Surely it won't be that easy but-"
A knock stops us in our tracks and Kadachi clears his throat before placing his finger onto it and a small light glows from his finger becomes present, as he speaks I can't help but smile and silently laugh as his voice sounds like an old geezer.
"Hello, may I help you sunny?"
A sigh is heard from on the other end.
"Kirito is that you?"
Shocked by the voice on the other end Kirito and I look at each other before he finally swings the door open revealing one of his sisters
"Izumi!?"
She quickly comes inside and shuts the door behind her before hugging both of us.
"Oh my goodness it is so wonderful to see that both of you are ok! It's been so hard not being able to see or talk to either of you!!"
Her voice cracks as I feel her tears hit my shoulder we just hug her back and Kirito is first to speak.
"We're sorry to have made you all worry, but this time we're here to stay I promise this war will end."
She sniffles and takes a step back while smiling at us.
"Good, I believe in all of us too! Anyway, I'm glad you guys made it here safely, the tavern was raided not long ago and I was terrified you guys would get caught but luckily they showed up before you guys seeing you made it back here at this time."
Kirito nods.
"Where do we go from here?"
Izumi sighs and looks up at the clock on the wall.
"We'll meet up with most of everyone in about an hour, our headquarters is in a library a few streets down but I must warn you that a lot of people are not too happy with either of you right now. A lot of people even from the resistance do not welcome you."
I frown feeling a bit guilty but Izumi places her hand on my shoulder.
"It'll be alright because even with saying that most of them understand that without you guys staying alive and away for as long as you have this war hasn't been lost and they know that now that you guys have returned this war can finally be put to an end."
Kirito chuckles.
"Even when this war is over it still truly won't have ended. The vampires will continue to try and take control as long as they exist this is just going to be a small victory, everything living and breathing is just food or a play toy to them-"
I nudge his arm and clear my throat.
"Not all of them are like that, I do believe that there are some good ones out there just like there are bad humans."
Izumi giggles.
"I think Yuki is right, alright let's go ahead and head to the library and maybe some others have arrived early as well."
We both nod and put on a disguise before following her out.
(Rode's Pov)
"Master, the rebels were not located at the tavern with the intel you received but we did however find a witness stating such individuals were witnessed to be in the vicinity, what shall you want us to do next?"
I tap my finger on the arm of my chair as I scan over some documents and look up to see the commoner's president down on one knee along with a lookout patrol man I sent out earlier.
"That'll be all, the fact they were even in the vicinity or that we got any word at all that the tavern is a well-liked meet-up shows they are finally making a move."
(That alchemy was an unexpected problem before.)
I clutch my still unusable left arm and smirk.
(I've healed most of my body but for some reason, I still can't feel or move my left arm, that little girl sure is something eh.)
I stand up and set the documents down on the table.
"Bring out test subject Zero, Have Kazuki brief him then have him deal with them and see if Astra is finally awake and send her out as well but to only get a new specimen. Also have Kazuki wake Tomoki up I have a special job for him…Once this is done come tell me and I'll tell you what to do next but for now…"
I pick up a small bottle sitting on an end table and he catches it.
"Deliver this to your informant and tell them good job and keep up the good work."