"Go ahead," Lucifer lazily said before he picked up the menu to order.
"Why did you agree to help us against APF? Weren't you all so loyal that you would've accepted death before betrayal? Or is it that you're trying to lead us to a trap to betray us later?" Kellian asked Ayn.
"What would I get by fighting against you all now? Varant is already dead, and all of our strongest members are dead as well. It's already a lost battle," Ayn replied.
"At least this way, I can escape the unnecessary torture while also making sure that more people don't die," she explained, looking down while sighing. "Also, you might not know it, but his decay is scarier than death."
"So you'll truly help us? You do know the consequences of betrayal, right?" Kellian inquired again.
"I know. I won't even think about that. I don't want innocent people to die because we were stubborn enough to resist," Ayn responded firmly.
"You better remember that," Kellian nodded as he walked back to his table, accepting the decision.
The food was soon served for Lucifer and Ayn.
"It seems like you really planned everything, didn't you?" Alicia asked. "You even thought about our entrance."
"Who would if not me?" Lucifer lazily answered.
The others had already finished eating by now, but Lucifer just began, so they all waited here.
It was only after thirty minutes when Lucifer stood up. It was time to leave.
He was the first person to step out of the restaurant, followed by his team members. His long robe flew with the wind just like his long hair, making him seem slightly charming, but there was no one to see him on the street.
The entire street was empty.
They all entered their helicopters. The rotors started moving as the helicopters took to the air.
"Three miles ahead of us is the APF headquarters. It's not surrounded by any other building, so it'll be pretty easy to spot. But that's also the problem. They can easily spot you too."
Kellian and Lucifer were standing in front of the helicopters, which had stopped three miles away from the APF headquarters. It was to discuss the further plan.
"Even if you go with Ayn, they'll be suspicious. So what's your plan?" Kellian asked.
"I'll be the hostage," Lucifer replied.
"That should make them a bit less alert. Ayn would take me inside that place, pretending as if she had caught me. After I get inside, we'll get to work and disable all the security systems. After that, you all can come."
"And if anything goes wrong, we'll handle it when the time comes," he said.
"I still feel there is risk in the plan. But then again, you're immortal. So it should be fine. But how will Ayn get the information to them?" Alicia inquired.
" I mean, they can just see a Variant Uprising Helicopter coming towards them. What's to stop them from blowing you up in the middle of the air?" She further asked.
"Don't worry, we have thought of that as well. There is a secret frequency that APF members use to contact each other. Using that frequency, she can send a signal to them even from inside our helicopter. They won't blow us up," Lucifer answered. "You all stay ready."
"Alright then. Best of luck. Hopefully, the plan would succeed without any hiccups," Alicia let out, sighing. "I don't want to lose anyone else."
...
Leaving the team behind, Ayn and Lucifer stepped inside the helicopter in the lead.
The only other person inside the helicopter was the pilot, who was also an Uprising Member.
The helicopter advanced towards the APF base.
....
"Sir, a chopper is coming towards us. And it doesn't seem like ours. Instead, it seems to belong to the Variant Uprising. What should I do? Blow it up?"
Inside the Defense Room, a dark-haired man was sitting on his chair. Tens of screens were in front of him, which were showing the surrounding of the base.
"Only one?" The head of the Defense Team asked.
"That is right. There's only one. So it doesn't seem like an attack team. But they're still not stopping," the dark-haired man answered.
"Alright. Blow them up. This is a restricted area where no one can come. Certainly, the government won't send anyone here. And the Hunter Union always comes after informing us. These should be the enemies. Make sure you destroy them entirely," the leader said as he observed the black helicopter flying towards them.
The dark-haired man typed something on his keyboard, which brought a different set of controls out.
There were many buttons on the new control, all of which had a character printed on them.
"Three... Two... One..."
As he finished the count, he reached out his hand to press the button.
"Wait!" A scream came from behind.
"What, Ray?" The dark-haired man asked as he barely stopped himself.
His finger was still touching a red button. A single moment more, and the switch would have been pressed.
"We're getting a strange signal. It's on our secret frequency, and it's coming from that helicopter. It might be one of us!" Another man, who was sitting in a different system, said. He was Ray who was responsible for communication.
"Let the connection through. I want to hear who it is," the leader told Ray.
"Right away, Sir."
....
Inside the helicopter, Lucifer and Ayn were standing beside each other, looking at the base ahead.
"They should soon connect to us as well. Then we can start talking," Ayn told Lucifer, who wondered what was happening.
"This is Mark, Leader of APF Defense Squad. Identify yourself!" A manly voice came from the speaker as the connection was established.
"Mark, it's me, Ayn! I'm inside the helicopter. Don't blow it up!" Ayn said firmly.
"Captain Ayn?! What are you doing in a Variant Uprising helicopter?" Mark asked, seemingly stunned.
"I escaped in their helicopter! I also managed to catch a criminal. It's none other than Lucifer. He's also unconscious inside the helicopter. Other than the two of us and the pilot, there's no one else here," Ayn informed Mark.
"Alright. You have the permission to land on the helipad," Mark affirmed, giving the permission. "We won't attack."
The connection was disconnected.
"Success. Now you just need to do your part. Stay in the cell until I get the security systems off. After that, I'll free you," Ayn told Lucifer, turning around.
"Are you really trying to remind me of the plan I made?" Lucifer inquired, smiling wryly. He couldn't help but find it funny.