Belial closed his eyes, the weight of the file still heavy in his hand.
Hey, Oracle, can you read this?
[Answer: Yes, I can.]
[Translating]
Belial nodded in acknowledgment and opened his eyes to see Cassidy still grinning like an idiot. Cassidy was rummaging through the racks, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he grabbed a piece of armor from a nearby display. It was a set of protective gear, sleek and practical.
"You'll need these for protection... wouldn't want Leah to strangle me to death," Cassidy said as he handed the gear over.
Belial blinked in confusion, glancing at the armor. It wasn't the kind of armor he was used to—a traditional, battle-worn style of black samurai plating. But this? It was something else. The metal was a muted grey, almost dull, barely reflecting the sparse light in the room.
For a moment, he stared at it, unsure. It looked so simple, yet the weight in his hands was substantial. It took him a moment, but Belial slid into the armor, adjusting the straps. Surprisingly, it was comfortable. The inside was padded just enough to make him feel secure, without the usual stiff, constricting feeling armor often gave.
He liked it. It wasn't the glamorous, shining knight's armor he'd always admired, but it had a certain understated toughness to it. A quiet, unassuming strength. A bit like him.
Then he saw Cassidy again. The man had donned his own set of armor—sleek, obsidian-black, woven from enchanted shadow silk. The material shimmered faintly with arcane runes etched into it, glowing in soft, eerie pulses. Cassidy's mantle swished as he moved, and Belial couldn't help but stare. It looked like a cross between a mage and an assassin's outfit, like something straight out of an RPG game Belial had played during his downtime.
His eyes sparkled with excitement. "Your armor has runes as well. Do you know what it does?" Belial asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
Cassidy gave him a sideways glance, the usual cocky smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I know a little about reading runes. This armor was custom made for me, so I know how it works." He pointed to his dark breastplate. "This one enhances my ether. Makes me quicker, stronger. Helps me channel my energy more efficiently."
Belial's mind buzzed with the possibilities. Ether enhancement? Interesting. Definitely something worth learning about.
Cassidy then pointed to the hooded mantle draped over his shoulders. "And this?" He grinned wider. "If someone stares at it for too long, they start feeling dizzy, off-balance. A little bit of disorientation goes a long way when you're trying to escape or set up a quick attack."
Belial raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
Cassidy shrugged, looking at his armor with an appraising glance. "I'm not exactly an expert when it comes to runes though. If you want real answers, you should talk to Cole or that hot, buff blacksmith, Serah. She knows her stuff. She even made your sword, remember?" Cassidy chuckled at the thought, clearly amused by his own joke.
Belial groaned internally. As much as he appreciated Cassidy's attempt at humor, it was hard to ignore the fact that Cole was likely busy, and Serah probably wouldn't give him the time of day after his unfortunate history with breaking her creations.
A sigh escaped his lips. Guess I'll wait for Oracle.
Just as he was about to ask Cassidy for more details on his gear, Cassidy picked up the file he had placed on the display case. He grabbed it, gave Belial a knowing look, and pointed to the top where the file's title lay.
"Take a look at this," Cassidy said quietly.
The words on the file were clearly printed in bold, formal text. Belial's eyes scanned the page as he took it from Cassidy's outstretched hand.
---
Spec Ops Report
Subject: Investigation into the Dungeon Incident
Lead Investigator: Troxil
Suspect: Flint Jackerman (Guild Member - Discovered Cult Affiliation)
Summary:
Following the events in the dungeon, a deeper investigation was launched into the guild's activities and the affiliations of its members. It was revealed that one of the raiders from the previous mission, Sora, was secretly involved with Alexander Drummond's cult. Drummond's organization has been under investigation for several weeks due to its suspected involvement in numerous clandestine activities across the country.
The discovery of Sora's affiliation with the cult has led to a broader inquiry, involving various guilds and factions. Troxil and his team have investigated several potential moles within the ranks, including within our own guild. Your task is to go investigate, capture this mole and report back to Guild leader Cole Blackburn.
Threat Level: Aetherion
Coordinates: 51.5072° N, 0.1276° W
Proceed with extreme caution.
- Natalia Rasputin
---
Belial paused, his fingers frozen on the page.
The gravity of the report settled over him like a dark cloud. His voice dropped to a hushed tone.
"Insanity.."
Belial's gaze hardened, his mind already piecing together what the words meant. Alexander Drummond. A name that carried weight—a man so elusive and dangerous that even the mention of his cult sent shivers down the spines of those who met him. Lex's cult had been operating in the shadows, and now, one of their own guild members had been outed.
His faced slightly grimmased. Another one of our own? He read the file again, his thoughts racing. Recalling the time when Sora bombed the tunnel of the gate, nearly killing him.
"You're telling me that another of our guildmates was involved with this cult?" Belial's voice was edged with disbelief and slight irritation.
Cassidy avoided his gaze, the playful tone slipping from his voice as he glanced away. "Yeah. That's the problem. He'd been with us for a while—didn't even know he was compromised until Troxil uncovered the truth."
Belial clenched his fists at his sides. "A mole, right under our noses?"
Cassidy's usual cocky grin was gone, replaced by a tense expression. "Worse than that," he murmured. "The cult's been infiltrating guilds for months apparently. We don't even know how deep it runs. Could be more members inside. Hell, it could even be someone you least expect."
Belial's thoughts spun faster. His grip tightened around the file, its weight suddenly feeling heavier in his hands. His stomach twisted in a knot. The cult had infiltrated their ranks, and there was no telling who else could be a part of it.
The silence stretched between them, both men lost in their thoughts. Belial's gaze drifted to the window, where the night sky stretched endlessly. His mind raced with the same burning question: How far was Lex Willing to go?
And more importantly—how deep does this go?
---
Cassidy walked past Belial, heading towards a lounge-like area. The room was modest yet inviting, with a pool table at the center and four orange couches arranged neatly around it. Each couch faced a doorway leading into a much larger room. This next space was illuminated by a faint, eerie glow, its red light pulsing with a quiet intensity.
As Belial stepped closer, his gaze was immediately drawn to the centerpiece—a massive circle, nearly five meters in diameter, suspended above the floor. From it, intricate red lines traced upward, stretching to the ceiling in perfect symmetry. The same red circle adorned the upper reaches of the room, casting a strange glow that seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy.
Belial studied the scene for a moment, his thoughts shifting to the teleporter room. He was certain this was the location beneath it, just as Cassidy had set the coordinates.
Cassidy turned to him, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smile. "You ready?" he asked, his voice steady, though there was an edge of anticipation in the air.