Six Hours Later
Atlas' airplane materialized around a hundred meters from Chester City. Once airborne, they descended onto a floating boat, which had been stowed inside the aircraft.
With a few deft touches to the controls, Atlas activated the aircraft's autopilot, retracing its course as it landed in a remote location he had pre-selected before their arrival, far from the city.
Upon entering the boat, Atlas and Dante rowed it until they reached the shore. The sandy beach was adorned with palm trees, which added to the picturesque scenery. After disembarking from the boat, Atlas dug a deep trench, using it to bury the vessel.
They then proceeded towards a nearby cabin, carefully hidden among the trees.
The rebellion within Chester City against the nobles had taken a violent turn, with the situation exacerbated by the repeated raids of the Steel Gates Mercenary Corps.
The indiscriminate attacks had caused numerous casualties among the ordinary citizens of the city, further fueling the unrest.
Adding to the chaos was the Cultural Revolution Front, which included privately hired assassin organizations comprised of "Unfated" individuals, intensifying the conflict even more.
Moving swiftly through the woods, Atlas and Dante trod upon branches with the utmost care, leaving only the faintest traces of their passage.
As they made their way toward the cabin, Atlas shared some less sensitive information with Dante.
Eventually, the cabin came into view. Although small and rustic, it would serve as the perfect cover for their mission.
Upon entering, Atlas retrieved the device from a case, the very object they had been sent to retrieve.
"Mr. Atlas and Mr. Dante, we have managed to gather a limited amount of information by making a deal with the Military Task Force. Currently, the Task Force is at a stalemate with the Nightmare Brigade due to their frequent "Hunger Games," which is why they requested assistance from the academy."
The voice of the "Unfated" individual came through the device's speaker, providing them with specific details. The academy had built a tight network of information, employing individuals ranging from young children to renowned mages, including "Unfated" individuals, which allowed them to obtain valuable intelligence.
Despite being an organization known for its neutrality and lack of involvement in world affairs, the academy had access to a wealth of information, as it was essential for their self-protection. After all, knowledge is power.
"The 'Hunger Games' is a tradition of the Nightmare Brigade, allowing for the selection of a new leader after five years of mourning," Atlas explained to Dante, pausing the audio as he provided some background information on the world's dynamics.
Atlas was primarily present to protect Dante's life during the mission, as it was considered to be beyond Dante's level. However, Arthur tasked Atlas with the additional responsibility of providing Dante with an introduction to the world, including information about Monarchs and global organizations, as Dante was lacking in basic orientation of the world dynamics.
Dante, who was familiar with the fundamental principles of organizational management, asked, "Doesn't the absence of a leader spell disaster for an organization?"
"That's a common belief in organizational management, but the dynamics of our world are a perfect balance and imbalance at the same time," Atlas responded to Dante's question.
"The Nightmare Brigade has the support of the Monarch, but they don't interfere in their internal affairs to maintain the balance, which is why there are representative leaders. However, even with the Monarch serving as a sort of balance to prevent a power gap, there are other beings just as strong as them who lack their experience and wealth of knowledge, which also presents the possibility of an imbalance."
"Alright, I understand" Dante nodded affirmatively as he quickly pieced the basis together building a concrete structure of logical deductions.
"Good to hear that you're following along," Atlas said with a small smile before playing the audio.
"As of two days ago, we received a distress call from the mayor of Town Z requesting backup, despite two members of the Grade A1 Corps already being dispatched to the scene. With the arrival of a rival mercenary group known for their tenacity, the situation has taken a dire turn, and these two students from the academy are considered to be in danger of losing their lives," the voice reported the basic findings.
Atlas emitted a powerful aura as he grasped the gravity of the report. His initial impulse was to turn off the device and rush to Town Z, but his experience in infiltration kicked in, causing him to suppress his emotions and regain his composure.
Dante observed Atlas's unexpected change in demeanor with a look of surprise, wondering why the typically jovial Atlas had suddenly become so cold and distant. However, upon learning that the endangered students were likely classmates of theirs in the academy, Dante quickly made the connection.
According to Atlas, the Grade A Corps spanned all classes, and each grade was identified by a corresponding grade number written next to the letter A. To illustrate, the Grade A Corps for the first grade would be referred to as the Grade A1 Corps.
"The mission-specific is a double mission of reconnaissance and rescue. But per the policies of the academy, the safety of the student precedes reconnaissance except for very extreme situations where the lives of the innocents will be lost. This ends our report, further specifics have been given to you by Instructor Arthur. Good luck on your mission, Mr. Atlas and Mr. Dante" the voice rang out just before the screen of the device shut off and started its self-destructive process.
Atlas breathed deeply, calming his intense aura, and faced Dante with a serious tone. "The students belong to the same Grade A1 Corps as us," he said.
"We must act swiftly to rescue them, but we must also exercise caution and avoid acting rashly. We don't have a complete understanding of the situation yet."
Dante nodded his head in agreement, indicating his comprehension of the situation. However, he was eager to learn more and contribute to the rescue mission as it was his first time in such a predicament. Dante welcomed anything that would enhance his instincts and abilities.
Atlas responded, "Our next step is to gather more intelligence. We need to identify our opponents, determine their numbers and capabilities, and ascertain the town's layout and the whereabouts of potential hostages. The plan is to infiltrate the town, collect relevant information, and devise a course of action."
Dante inquired with curiosity, recalling the precise details of the communicator that Arthur had given him, "Is that not precisely what Mr. Arthur stated?"
"Yes, that is correct. However, we intend to make some adjustments to it. The academy has always been a bastion of liberty, and the Grade A Corps enjoys even more freedom, as our capabilities are more widely trusted once we have demonstrated our worth." Atlas replied but his overzealous tone was a bit down because he was worried.
Dante realized that he should refrain from asking further questions and keep his thoughts to himself.
He was not familiar with the other students, so he was uncertain about how to react if any of them were kidnapped or killed.
However, he understood that this was a valuable experience that he could leverage to his advantage.
In the past days, Dante had encountered many powerful monsters, and he felt powerless in their presence. Arthur's abilities had left a strong impression on him, and Dante suspected that he had not even utilized a significant portion of his powers.
Dante was most impressed by Arthur's exceptional emotional control. Even in the face of intense hostility, Arthur was able to recognize that Dante may not have been responsible for what had triggered him, and he quickly regained his composure.
This level of emotional control was the ultimate goal that Dante aimed to achieve. He hoped to develop the ability to maintain his composure even when confronted with overwhelming aggression or formidable foes and to show no reaction to the intense thrill he experienced during battles.
Once all the necessary information was sorted and a basic plan of action was established, they quickly adorned themselves with mage robes, the traditional attire of most mages in Britannia.
With their personalized grimoires in hand, chosen during their time in the academy, they effortlessly merged with their group.
Following their initial preparations, they carefully erased all traces of their existence, including the footprints leading to the cabin.
Finally, standing before each other, they exchanged a nod, their unwavering determination shining through the gleam in their eyes.