After Lust explained what happened while Vaos and Vulcan were out leaving Copy with Professor Juno, Vaos started arguing with her. Clearly frustration as he questioned her choices. Lust, though hurt and tired, kept her cool, smirking through it all. Eve watched nearby, while Vulcan leaned against the door, watching quietly. The tension in the room was noticable as Vaos kept pressing Lust.
"What the hell were you thinking, Lust?!" Vaos yelled. "Do you realize what you've done? Now they're on high alert, and we've lost the element of surprise with you, revealing yourself as a traitor was reckless!"
"Ehh, relax, Vaos. I did what needed to be done; the portal is down, and that's what matters, right?" Lust tried to reason. "Now, they'll be scrambling to rebuild that portal, which alone will buy us enough time to plan and wait for your other student."
"You're a loose cannon, Lust," Vaos exclaimed. "I don't think I can leave you alone, otherwise you'll make another decision like this on a whim."
"Ehh, my bad. Next time, I promise I'll check in with you first before pulling a stunt like that," Lust apologized as she nonchalantly shrugged.
Vaos held back his urge to yell at Lust, realizing she would disregard his words. "I'll have to contact the police chief and the White Crusader to inform them of this situation," he sighed heavily.
"On second thought, Eve, Vulcan," Vaos said, "it might be best if you two head over and inform them. I'll stay here and make sure Lust doesn't do anything else stupid."
Eve nodded, "Let's go, Vulcan. This place feels tense, and I'd rather not stick around for Vaos to start yelling at Lust again," she sighed.
"R-Right, let's get going, Eve," Vulcan nervously chuckled.
At the WWP building, Alexander and Wrath were strangely calm despite the portal being destroyed. Their calmness seemed almost out of place, considering the situation and threat posed by their enemies.
As The Forbidden and Edward worked on repairing the portal, Alexander leaned back on his chair in his office. "What fools," he remarked. "We already have the knowledge of how the energy alignment of the destroyed portal parts should correspond perfectly with this planet."
"Nonetheless, the time spent repairing this portal is bothersome. We've lost three allies thus far: Forbidden Nature met his end in battle, and now we have no clue where his core lies. Copy has vanished without a trace. And as for Lust, she's proven herself nothing more than a filthy traitor." Wrath said.
"More importantly, are we going to retaliate against them? We can't just let this slide," Alexander asked. "After losing three of our own, including Forbidden Nature and Copy, and with Lust turning traitor, we can't afford to show any weakness now."
"It's not so simple, human," Wrath replied. "If we rush into retaliation, we risk attracting unwanted attention. Other so-called heroes might interfere, and the missing members of the Victorious Ten could reappear at any moment."
"I understand, but this doesn't sit right with me. From now on, I'll be keeping a close eye on them," Alexander remarked.
"Feel free to act as you see fit, but refrain from any reckless actions," Wrath grunted.
Alexander nodded, acknowledging Wrath's decision. Wrath activated his spatial retreat, disappearing from the office.
Eve and Vulcan walked to the police station, and upon arrival, they were informed that Brian and the White Crusader they were out doing an investigation elsewhere. Then they headed straight to Brian's apartment, they stood at the door, knocking on it and patiently waiting.
After a few minutes, the door opened, "Hey, it's you two. What's up?" she asked, leaning casually against the door frame.
"We're here to speak with you and the White Crusader, but first, could you maybe wear something a bit more appropriate?" Eve sighed as she looked at Brian's casual yet revealing clothing.
"Please give me a second," Brian closed the door quietly behind her and she headed straight for her room. Outside, Vulcan leaned against the hallway wall.
"I thought she was out investigating with the White Crusader?" Vulcan asked.
"You know, it seemed like you couldn't keep your eyes off her..." Eve pouted, crossing her arms and giving Vulcan a sideways glance. She couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy.
"Huh? I-it's not like that, I swear," Vulcan nervously laughed and rubbing the back of his head. "We're here to tell them about the situation, remember?"
"Sure, sure, just don't get distracted now," Eve sighed, she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.
A minute later, the door swung open again, and the White Crusader stood there. "Let's get this over with quickly," he said. "There's only one reason you two would show up here unannounced. What news do you have?"
Eve and Vulcan exchanged glances before Eve let out a sigh and began to speak. She told him the events that happened in the morning, recounting how Copy was taken to Professor Juno and how Lust had taken drastic measures to destroy the portal.
"I see, this is troublesome, but the timing is rather convenient," the White Crusader said, much to Eve and Vulcan's surprise. They had expected anger or frustration, but he seemed to be taking the news surprisingly well.
Brian walked out of her room, wearing her official uniform. "You know, the White Crusader and I have been searching around, trying to find a solid reason to 'raid' the WWP building. Turns out, we uncovered enough incriminating evidence to not only secure a warrant to search the place but also to put Alexander in the highest security prison," she explained, a tone of satisfaction in her voice.
"And judging by the current situation, I believe we'll have to go later today, until Brian gives the order," the White Crusader remarked.
"Yes, I think it's best we leave immediately. I'll quickly gather my units and begin our preparations, and finalize it quickly. Then we'll be ready to move out, White Crusader," Brian affirmed as she prepared for the upcoming operation.
"Brian, we shouldn't delay any longer. Every moment counts," the White Crusader said as he stood up.
"As for you two," the White Crusader glanced between Eve and Vulcan, "be quick and inform Vaos. We may need his assistance should our plans encounter unexpected challenges." His tone was firm yet composed.
"Got it, Mr. Hero. Come on, Vulcan," Eve replied as she left with Vulcan.
Eve and Vulcan walked back to the hotel, an tense air between them. Both understood the situation that was unfolding before them. They looked at each other, knowing the challenges ahead, aware that things were about to escalate quickly.
"Do you think we're at the end of the road here?" Vulcan wondered as they walked.
"Seems that way. Once Brian and the White Crusader start their search of the WWP building, anything could happen. The Forbidden might lash out in desperation, or Alexander might surprise us all and surrender willingly," Eve speculated.
"Also there's the fight with Wrath. He made it clear he could show up at any moment, so we have to be ready for that," Vulcan reminded Eve.
"I think it might be best if we focus on our training for a bit, Vulcan, even if it's just for a day" Eve suggested. "With all that's going on, honing our skills could give us an edge when things heat up again. The others can handle the immediate problems for now."
"Sounds like a plan," Vulcan agreed. "Let's go tell Vaos and get started. We can't afford to let our guard down."
At the hospital, Bard's recovery was gradual yet quick, eventually leading to his discharge. Despite being cleared to leave, he chose to remain by Simon's side a while longer. Simon's injuries were great, uncertain about when he might regain consciousness from his coma.
Bard let out a deep sigh as he sat by Simon's hospital bed, keeping watch over his injured friend. He knew he couldn't stay much longer; he had to meet up with Vulcan and Eve again. After a while, he finally left the hospital. Stepping outside, he took a moment to collect himself before walking away.
Bard sent a message to Eve, after a short while, his phone buzzed with a notification. Eve had finally replied, providing him with details about their stay at the hotel, including the room number and other important information.
Before Bard walked to the hotel, he decided to stop by an optician shop he had noticed along the way. Inside, he carefully browsed through the selection of monocles, searching for one that not only suited his need to cover the scar on his left eye but also reflected his style. After trying on several options and consulting with the shop assistant, he finally settled on a sleek, black rimmed monocle with a subtle engraving on the edge. Satisfied with his choice, Bard left the shop feeling more confident.
"Alright, I better get going now..."