"That... Does make sense. Hunter Union doesn't have intelligence infrastructure about the Variant Uprising since they're mainly for Dungeons," Yaliza affirmed as he nodded his head. What Lucifer was saying did make sense.
"That's where they put their focus. They only get all the information from APF about such things," he continued.
"But can we really do that with just a few of us? Their defenses are pretty strong as well," Isona asked.
"Doesn't matter. All we need to do is destroy their defenses. After that, it'll be easier. There aren't many of them either. I'll handle most of it," Lucifer answered.
" Alright. Let's do it."
"It would be good. Let's remove them entirely."
"I support this too. Since we have the momentum, keep it going. It's not a bad time."
One after another, all the top Warlocks of Variant Uprising agreed.
Even Kellian nodded while folding his arms.
"That's good. Send the injured back for recovery as they'll be useless in the next battle even if we take them. And prepare for departure," Lucifer commanded as he stood up.
"Helicopters are already coming," Yaliza responded, looking in the distance where he could see tens of helicopters coming towards them.
"I had a question. Where is Cassius? I haven't seen him in a long time?" Tristan suddenly asked.
" I'm right behind you," Cassius's voice came from behind as he also arrived.
Now that the war was over and they were successful, there was no need for Plan B anymore, and he could join them.
"Where were you?" Tristan asked. "I didn't see you anywhere."
"I was fighting as well," Cassius answered. "Also, I didn't see you anywhere either."
"Strange. I don't see even the slightest wound on your body?" Tristan inquired, squinting his eyes.
"Why would there be? I'm a good Swordsman. If I can be injured so easily, won't that be embarrassing?" Cassius replied, amused.
"I wouldn't have gotten injured either! It was just that I was distracted," Tristan let out, rolling his eyes as he was embarrassed.
Cassius wasn't injured in the least; in the meanwhile, he had already lost his arm.
But he also knew that his fight was the toughest. He was fighting one of the strongest in the APF, the Assassination Emperor. He still could've been careful to prevent it, so he was still embarrassed.
The helicopters landed on the ground. The injured were shifted inside the helicopters.
"Tristan, you also go in them," Kellian told Tristan.
Even though Tristan wanted to join them on the next battlefield as well, he couldn't. He knew he needed to be in base to get his hand attached fast, or he was going to lose it forever.
He also went inside one of the helicopters.
As everyone was inside the helicopters, Kellian gave them a signal to depart.
The helicopters started rising in the air as they left, ultimately disappearing in the distance.
In the other helicopters, Lucifer and the others entered. They were the ones that were going to attack the APF headquarters, which was known as the fortress. Alicia also joined them as well.
Even though Lucifer wanted to interrogate Varant first, he knew he needed to play along for a little while.
He couldn't go back to the bunker without being found out. He had already thought of this possibility, but he had also planned for something like that.
As the helicopters took to the air, Kellian finally questioned Lucifer, "How did Varant kill Raia?"
Lucifer seemed to have expected this question. He knew that it was going to be asked since Raia's body wasn't there.
But he couldn't have left Raia's body there either, as that would have given them clues that it was the work of Lucifer.
"Varant was able to use the abilities of others, it seemed. One such ability came as a surprise to me as well as to Raia. Before we knew it, he had Raia's neck in his grasp," Lucifer started explaining.
'I don't know what happened next, but it seemed like he was sucked into a black hole. His body disappeared," he further said.
He was telling the story he had already prepared in advance after he saw how Varant was changing his abilities in the field. "I guess that's why everyone said never to let Varant touch you."
"Strange. I didn't know Varant had this ability too. It looks like he really kept that secret for a moment like this," Kellian said, nodding in understanding. That was the only question he had, and the answer seemed valid.
The helicopters kept advancing ahead, and it was only after it left the city that Lucifer suddenly stood up. He started checking his pockets as if trying to find something.
"Did something happen?" Kellian asked.
"I think I forgot something behind," Lucifer said. "I left it in the city."
"Should we go back? Is it really important?" Kellian inquired, wondering what it could be.
"It's a personal heirloom. I can't leave it behind," Lucifer replied. "Let's go back."
"Wait. I don't think it's good for all of us to go back. You can fly, right? Why don't you go back, find that thing and come back? It'll save a lot of time. We can wait in the next city for you?" Cassius suggested according to the plan.
"That's right as well. You all wait for me in the city and eat up. Also, get some food packed for me as well. As soon as I come back, we'll depart," Lucifer nodded.
Without giving Kellian a chance to speak, he opened the door of the helicopter and jumped outside.
Kellian also didn't feel like anything was wrong. He could have been suspicious if Lucifer had talked about going alone instead of Cassius, but Lucifer wanted them all to go with him initially until Cassius's suggestion.
One of the Variants closed the doors of the helicopter after taking a glance at Lucifer, who was flying away from them.
After a few moments, Lucifer turned back to make sure that no one was following him. There was none.
He landed in the lifeless Kensington City, which didn't have a single person here anymore as he advanced towards the bunker, ready to get his answers.
He entered the secret code at the entrance of the bunker, which was invisible from the top because it was made to look like a rock from the top.
As the entrance opened, Lucifer stepped inside to see Ayn sitting in the back. Her hands were cuffed, and she was also tied from a pole.
Varant was still lying on the table where Lucifer left him. There was blood everywhere that belonged to Varant.