The forces are gathered everywhere around them. The majority of the vanguard in the ruins were Regulus guards. The Chara Venatici lay low behind the back. It is not war that they came for here. They only came to retrieve Pandora's chest.
Socrates aims for no casualties because he had already caused a lot more while he was living in his prime years. As he looks back to his experiences everything flashes back in his mind. It gave him the feeling that he was just with his boys before.
"Hide yourself for a while Thomas. Your organization mates might recognize a familiar look and come to us."
"Of course." Wearing his cape and covering his face.
Socrates looks at him awkwardly.
"Do you think that'll work? I mean the guards are wearing their fitted suit uniforms and here we are…"
Looks at each other blankly.
"Well, whatever. Are you ready to face your past organization mates?"
"Uhm… well, I only worked for them for a short time. I only joined them because I was curious about the symbol, the one they embed within themselves."
"Ugh… the logo…something?"
"Yes, I thought they had something to do with my clan."
"There he is…"
They saw Raj approaching. He was with his group and was about to take his leave.
"We are already in this desert, so let's just proceed with our plan."
"Raj, have you told them anything."
Raj looks back to his teammates from the Universe squad and faces back at Thomas.
"No, they are not part of our plan. If I told them anything, they would just get in our way."
Meanwhile, Shield, Stella, and Ferra were chatting among themselves while they were still situated in the camp waiting for their deployment.
"Hey, Stella, Ferra, who are those guys with Raj? They seem to look familiar."
"…and who is that other one wearing a cape and covering himself like an idiot."
Strawberry stepped in with Alzheim on his back.
"All right guys, gather around and listen."
"We'll be sending you guys back to your usual posts after…"
Strawberry looks at her watch.
"…five minutes sharp."
Alzheim approached Strawberry obviously out of curiosity.
"Excuse me, commander."
Strawberry just finished checking her list. Looks at Alzheim and finally marks the last check box.
"Oh? Yes? What is it Alzheim?"
"Commander, I wonder why the Regulus group isn't engaging in any combats. I know that they had already found out that we the Chara Venatici group are also around the ruins doing our loot."
"That's simple." Tapping the pen on his forehead. He blushed and noticed her elaborate chest.
"What would they gain if they engaged in combat? Aren't we here to find the ultimate treasure left in this place?"
He moved away his stare from Strawberry's body. Alzheimer is uneasy and tense.
"Yes…but? Isn't it easier for them to search for the place if they are not conscious that we are here?"
"Cmo'n Alzheim you are better than this. That is what you call taking advantage of the enemy… and… we are doing the same. If they made any progress it would be impossible for them to hide it… if they managed to get their hands on the box first… then that's where we grab it from their hands with force."
"They know we do have that many resources, so they are not worried about us finding this treasure first. Besides, it will be difficult for us to sneak out from the ruins…carrying a thing…whatever it might look like."
"I believe one thing that constricts their movements is from the higher-ups. This thing…" Strawberry points out outside.
"You see there?"
"All of these cost money. Where do you think they got all the money they have? Compared to them we have less monetary power because we are not backed by anyone."
"If we engage in first, unnecessary battle first… that is like throwing away some of our resources and people. And if they engage first… without any development for almost a year. Who would invest in something that cannot generate anything? They would be losing all the people that provide their sustenance."
She made Alzheim scratched her head.
"That's right…I see…" Alzheim was still absorbing what Strawberry said. Although it was already at the tip of his mind, he just needed to make sure of his idea.
Chara Venatici's troops are already deployed in their areas. Even if they sneaked their way through these spots, the Regulus group is well aware of their movements and continues to monitor them.
Strawberry followed up with Raj and Socrates. She was racing towards them. When Thomas saw her up close his nose bled.
"Who is this?"
"This is the guy we told you that has been assisting us."
"When can we go in?" Socrates checks the time in the mounted clock inside the army camp.
"At exactly noon the Regulus group pulls out their guards. That will be the time that you sneak in… we usually send off our guards 10:00 minutes before noon so that we can keep them in check. I know they also notice our people so you will be entering the other way around. In the east of the ruins, there is an entrance. It is usually three dunes from our last army camp around 150 meters away. I will guide your way outside till I can bring you in. The topography usually changes because of the winds so the numbers of the dunes might vary."
"By the way how many are you going in?" Strawberry asks while she also points at them and counts them herself.
"Me, Raj, Thomas, and you as our guide."
"I see."
They sat for a while and waited. And while waiting.
"Now tell me, Socrates, is this part of your tasks? You've been busy these years looking for that man."
Raj and I were outside waiting.
"I think I can never find the boys' father. He is good at hiding…" He let out a chuckle.
"Or probably already dead. Like when I searched for the last surviving member of the Gemini squad. They said he was still well and alive, but it turns out he was already dead… I do not want to get my hopes up. If you think I am still searching for that man, I am not. I was doing other things…like helping towns from monster attacks."
"I will believe you for that one. I was stalking you for some time. I hate to admit it. The organization still keeps an eye on you. It was so reckless of you to register as one of the explorers in the Regulus group to be part of this expedition with a weird disguise. You know we have our man inside Regulus, right? From Chara Venatici when you applied?"
"I know. I was just bored."
"How about now aren't they wondering that you stopped working with them? And you had got me with those fake credentials."
"We'll I told them I have a terminal illness. They never suspected anything."
It was already noon all of them already stood up. Strawberry took the lead. "Follow me, we need to swift."
"We found the rune mark on the West side of the ruins, but we can't enter through that area nor the South or North. Those areas are heavily guarded by the Regulus group."
"If there was an easier way. Believe me, I would also love to choose it."
"You can teleport us, right? So why…". Even before Raj finished his sentence Strawberry argued.
"I can surely do that. I am not that dumb. Even Socrates knew that you would lose your way out if I did not bring you there and show the path. Right?"
Everyone looks at Raj slowly turning their heads and talking about him.
"Socrates did not even bother asking. Socrates can teleport himself his way in."
Raj kept his silence and did not bother to continue talking.
"No, I cannot do that wavelength of energies in the space or area where I am going to teleport will be disrupted. Regulus might also notice the change in wavelength and frequencies. Besides, I can only teleport myself. Strawberry can bring people but that would consume a lot of Quanta energy and stamina."
This explains why Strawberry automatically sleeps when she teleports Raj and Shield when they get back to the airship from their previous visit.
"Socrates is right. I even forgot to mention that part."
Hot air is blowing outside as they fall in line at the back of Strawberry taking their steps. They venture across the twisting hills of sand. The sky was clear blue glass.
They crossed swiftly in the dunes led by Strawberry. They sneak towards the guards of the Regulus group.
Now, as they stagger towards the inside of the ruins, the space becomes smaller and smaller. But it was not tight. It has a room with a high ceiling, but it somehow constricts your movements.
It was felt all over the place the different aura and presence of Quanta radiating the place. Raj looks at his hands while continuing to feel the presence of the place.
Socrates looks around searching for the stone mark that resembles the rune. They were all rested and steady as they were free to move. Away from the guards and disturbances around them.
Meanwhile, outside the north gate of the ruins came Axel. More badass as he looks, he calls out his guards to give them orders immediately. Raj, Socrates, Thomas, and Strawberry were unaware of the events that were occurring outside.
After he takes a few steps away from the vehicle that he rode, Ken, Chris and the twins unload themselves from the truck. Wearing their tight suits fitting for combat.
Axel folds his sleeves as he enters the ruins.
"What's the new update about that area in the ruins with the frequency anomaly?"
Researchers came near him with a pack of records that they discussed with Axel.
"About that sir. We noticed that there was a barrier that was located on the West side of the ruins. Your arm weaponry Dimentum Quantabrid is especially designed for breaking these kinds of barriers aside from absorbing Quanta from other people. But basically, you need the reinforcements from our machines to break through it."
"I can just blow it myself…"
"We would not want that to happen, sir. We have added some reinforcement to the structure but based on our calculation it cannot bear the explosion of the barrier. You will be burying everyone here alive. The ruins would collapse."
Strawberry and the others are sneaking strategically passing guard by guard. They were already in the middle part of the ruins and it was already close till they reached the western part where the mark of the runes exists.
"What about the history thing… they said they sent people to find out more information about it?" Peolo asked Paulo as they followed Axel.
"They are men of science. Why would these men of science believe such superstitious belief?"
The same researcher crossed in with Paulo's statement.
"Whether that may be true or not. It will be more convenient for us to use and apply the tools that we have. Isn't it sirs?"
"You do prove a point. If you already have the resources, why would you look for others than the one in front of you."
Axel was led by a team of researchers who recognized the barrier to break it.
"We've already made some alterations with your arms in confluence with your Quanta energy so this should work this time."
"Just be sure, I'm already tired and bored of all this shit."
Axel strangled one of the researchers by the neck. With a grinning look on his face. This man who was strangled was terrorized by the wrath and power of him.
"You already did keep saying that it will work this time. But this is already the sixth time that we have done this. Like the last time. If it does not work, I will blast one of you for wasting my time."
Everyone stayed silent. The team of researchers were praying all together that it would work.
"Pray all you want… you know there is no getting away after what happens."
Said Ken.
They continued to follow the same group of researchers as they continued to walk inside.