Forbidden Illusion observed the trio finish their sparring match, his expression fixed and unreadable. A silent alert echoed in his mind—a message confirming that The White Crusader, Vaos, and Brian, along with a small squad of officers, were headed to the WWP building. Yet his task remained unchanged: making sure that Eve, Vulcan, and Bard stayed oblivious to the unfolding events within the city with the use of his powers, their attention locked here.
Forbidden Illusion used his powers bending perception to his will. Every direction they looked seemed perfectly calm, frozen in time, like they'd just arrived in the forest, though in reality, two hours had quietly slipped by. Layers of illusion masked every sign of life from the city; the subtle energies of those moving within were hidden entirely, including his own, erasing any trace that might alert Eve, Vulcan, or Bard to what was truly happening.
Inside the city, The White Crusader, Vaos, and Brian walked towards the WWP building, their presence causing murmurs and whispers among the crowd that gathered at a distance. People stopped to watch, eyes filled with curiosity, but the officers accompanying them maintained calm control, politely guiding civilians to keep a respectful distance and ensuring the path forward remained clear.
The White Crusader gripped his weapon. "Aurora Brian, I'll let you handle the talking. Otherwise, I might just cut down Alexander the moment I see him."
Brian nodded, keeping her tone calm. "Please, try to refrain from doing so. But very well. I'll take care of most of the talking. You and Vaos focus on handling any... physical confrontations, if they arise."
"Think Alexander's going to give us trouble? He definitely won't be happy about us rummaging through the entire building—especially now that his portal's been destroyed," Vaos said, glancing at Brian.
"That's exactly the reaction I'm expecting," Brian replied, running a hand through her hair. "But once I show him the files documenting his actions and the shady moves his company's made, he'll have no choice but to let us search the entire building."
"Vaos, are you picking up any void energy coming from the building?" The White Crusader asked, his gaze fixed on the towering structure ahead.
Vaos nodded, his expression tense. "Yeah, and it's intense... almost overwhelming. If I had to guess, I'd say all of the Forbidden are gathered in there."
"Vaos, do you sense any void energy coming from the building?" The White Crusader asked, his gaze fixed on the building ahead.
Vaos nodded, his expression tense. "Yeah, and it's intense... almost overwhelming. If I had to guess, I'd say all of the Forbidden are gathered in there."
"Aurora Brian, have your men clear the area once we're there," The White Crusader ordered. "There's no telling what might happen."
Brian gave a nod, her expression steady, as they approached the building. "Understood. We'll be ready."
Brian gave the order, and the officers swiftly moved into position, moving civilians and workers away from the immediate area of the building. The unit's precision made sure the area was cleared in no time, leaving only the official team and a few scattered cars in the streets. However, from a distance, a news van quietly pulled up. A crew of reporters and camera operators began recording the scene, their lenses focused on the building.
Just as they were about to step forward, the doors of the WWP building creaked open, and Alexander Gear himself walked out. A smile, calm and almost unnervingly pleasant, expression on his face. He gripped a cane loosely in his right hand, but it was clear to anyone who observed him that the cane was purely for show—his posture was perfect, and he had no need for any physical aid. His appearance seemed almost rehearsed.
"Hello, Brian," Alexander greeted smoothly, his smile widening as he glanced over at her. "To what do I owe the pleasure of our city's police chief? Oh, and of course, how could I forget about you two?" He turned his attention. "The White Crusader and Vaos. Members of the Victorious Ten, our heroes during the Void War." His voice was warm, but there was an edge to it—his words almost sounded rehearsed. His smile remained, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
"I'm afraid we have no time for formalities, Alexander," Brian replied, her tone firm but polite. "Can you let us inside? There's much to discuss." Her eyes were sharp, scanning his face for any signs of hesitation, knowing full well this wouldn't be a simple conversation.
"Of course, Brian," Alexander replied, his smile not fading, but there was a glimmer of something unreadable in his eyes. "If you're in such a rush, I wouldn't dream of keeping you waiting." He gestured toward the entrance of the building. "But, I must say, I hope whatever it is you're looking for doesn't end up causing too much of a stir."
Brian gave a small nod to the officers, signaling them to stay alert. "Let's get this over with." She stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Alexander's, determined not to let him sidestep the issues any longer.
Alexander Gear led them into his office. "Well, what brings such esteemed guests to my humble buulding? Had I known the police chief and Victorious Ten would be paying a visit, I would've arranged a buffet in your honor!" He chuckled, clearly trying to maintain a lighthearted tone.
Brian's eyes narrowed slightly, she motioned to the files she held in her hands. "These documents contain evidence of some very troubling activities involving your company and some of your associates. We need to know everything. Now."
The White Crusader, towering silently beside her, remained focused on Alexander, his stance rigid as always. Vaos, ever watchful, stood by the door, scanning the room for any signs of deception or a trap.
Alexander's smile faltered for a brief moment, but he quickly regained composure. "I must say, Brian, you do know how to keep a conversation interesting. But I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you're implying. If you don't mind, may I have a look on those files you're holding?"
Brian handed the documents over without a word. As Alexander's eyes skimmed the contents, his expression shifted. His smile dropped. "Oh dear," he muttered, "This is... very troubling indeed. I had no idea such repulsive actions were happening behind the scenes in my company."
"We have more than enough reason to search your entire building," Brian said. "And while we technically don't need your permission, I'd prefer to have it. Do we have your consent to proceed?"
Alexander's expression shifted, the facade of politeness starting to slip. He paused for a moment, his fingers gripping the edge of his desk as though it might steady him. With a sigh, he finally spoke, his tone now lacking the usual charm. "I suppose if things are as serious as you say, there's no point in resisting. You have my consent... but I hope we can wrap this up quickly."
"Thank you, Alexander," Brian said, her voice composed. "Once the investigation is complete, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I suggest you remain in your office."
As she turned to leave, she glanced back at Vaos. "Vaos, stay here and keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't try to reach out to the other Forbidden while we're busy."
"Understood," Vaos replied, "I'll keep him in check."
Brian gave a nod before exiting with The White Crusader, her footsteps fading down the hall, leaving Vaos to stand guard over Alexander. The tension in the air was strong, but the mission had only just begun.
Brian and The White Crusader made their way back to the main floor of the building. As they moved, Brian immediately contacted additional police units to assist with the search. Their focus was clear: they needed to find the hidden portal and uncover its location, no matter how deeply it might be concealed within the building.
"Where should we begin, Aurora Brian? I would've had this whole building reduced to rubble by now, but since I'm not allowed to do that, I'll follow your lead," The White Crusader said.
Brian glanced around, then nodded toward the stairs. "The other units are already on the main floor, so we'll start at the top. We'll work our way down, room by room, until we find it. No stone left unturned."
"Mr. Vaos, if it's not too much trouble, may I make a quick call?" Alexander asked, his tone carefully neutral. "There's a meeting I'm supposed to attend soon, but it seems I'll have to miss it given the circumstances."
Vaos glanced at him briefly, his face expressionless. "You don't need my permission for anything," he replied with a shrug, though his eyes never left Alexander. "Do as you like." Despite his casual words, his gaze was sharp, watching Alexander's every move.
Without wasting a second, Alexander quickly dialed Forbidden Energy, his voice low as he tried to sound composed. "Hello, sir. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the meeting as planned. There are some... unforeseen circumstances. I hope we can reschedule?"
There was a brief pause on the other end before Forbidden Energy replied. "What do you mean, 'unforeseen circumstances,' Alexander? Where are you? The entire building is crawling with those damn officers. What's going on?"
Alexander's grip tightened on the phone, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to keep his composure. "I'm being watched by Vaos. The police chief and The White Crusader are on their own, searching for the portal. I'm stuck here, unable to act."
There was a silence on the other end before Forbidden Energy responded, his voice calculating. "That explains a lot. It seems you're trapped, then. Keep your head down for now, but if things escalate, we'll have to take drastic measures. We won't let them interfere with our plans."
Alexander quickly ended the call with, "Thank you for your understanding, sir, I hope we can meet soon and proceed with the meeting as planned!" Trying to maintain his calm demeanor as he placed the phone back down.
He glanced at Vaos, who remained watchful, making sure his actions didn't raise any suspicion.
"Alexander, there's something I must know," Vaos said, "Are you working with Edward?" His eyes narrowed slightly, observing Alexander's every movement as he waited for a response.
Alexander raised an eyebrow as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Vaos. "What an interesting thing to ask," he said, his tone light. "Are you referring to that terrorist, Edward? The one responsible for that robot attack a while back?" He paused, tapping his fingers on the desk thoughtfully before continuing, "I suppose I could give you an answer, but first, I want to know something myself. If you don't mind, of course... what is your attribute?" He leaned forward slightly, clearly trying to turn the conversation back onto Vaos.
"My attribute? I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean, Alexander," Vaos replied with a neutral tone, his expression giving nothing away. He took a moment to study the man, wondering what his true intentions were.
Alexander's smile didn't fade, it was as if he could see through the facade. "You're playing dumb now, Mr. Vaos." He said. "What's your Forbidden attribute?"
"You want to know my Forbidden attribute that badly, huh..."