Chapter 135

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Episode 30 - Black City [6]

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’It’s time. Everyone, gather in front of the dome.’

Alessia’s voice reached the minds of all the club members.

They had a few hours to take care of whatever tasks remained on the list Alessia had given them.

The auction would begin in approximately half an hour.

So all the club members quickly hurried toward the dome, their designated meeting point.

’Ah, there you are, Leader.’

Alessia looked around and soon spotted Julian and Charlotte.

She waved at them, and a few minutes later, the others had arrived as well.

The area where they were gathered was crowded with people. It resembled a plaza, and in front of them stood a massive black dome reflecting the red light of the crimson sky.

The club members sat inside a shop with tables located on the outskirts of the area. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

They had ordered something to eat to avoid drawing attention.

Alessia and the others watched the people walking toward the dome.

Many of them were elegantly dressed, both men and women. Some were not even wearing masks.

Alessia, Rinna, and Zoey, who had more information about the most notorious villains, carefully observed some of them.

’The most famous ones don’t even bother hiding their faces.’

Rinna said, and Alessia replied:

’Because they’re strong. At the very least, Class 8 and Class 9 villains are known worldwide, while only a few Class 7 villains or lower are known outside a single continent.’

’Leader, will we really be okay? From what you’re saying, this place is clearly full of powerful villains.’

Alessia smiled behind her mask.

’Don’t worry. We’re only here to gather information on a few important villains who have been difficult to track down and to find out the purpose—or at least the surface-level purpose—of this auction.’

Julian sighed.

’Then I need a report. Have you heard any rumors, conversations, or casual talk about the auction?’

Alessia and several other members had already learned of certain rumors and conversations related to the auction.

Everything from the item being auctioned to the presence of various important villains belonging to the Big Five.

Rinna was the first to speak.

’I only heard that a single leader from the Big Five will be present.’

’Then there will only be one Class 10 villain.’

’Yes, and it also seems that the auction will be divided into three parts. The first will consist of the auctioning of "common" items, the second of "special" items, and the last of highly "valuable" items. Oh, and there will also be a party right before the third part.’

Alessia mentally reviewed Rinna’s report for a few seconds before saying:

’Very well. The rest of you?’

Charlotte was the next to speak.

’I have some information related to security and something that might happen during the auction.’

Drawing everyone’s attention, Charlotte continued.

’From what I heard in some rumors and conversations at a bar, there will only be a total of eight guards inside and eighteen outside. I highly doubt they’re ordinary villains.’

After deciphering the negative emotions of those two individuals, Charlotte realized that there was some unknown organization behind the item everyone had come for today.

Of course, she kept all information related to Clana to herself, including the fact that Clana was currently in Black City.

Charlotte did not know why Clana was there, but she assumed that Clana might also be interested in the final item of the auction.

’Eight inside and eighteen outside. Then, Zoey, make sure to locate them later.’

’I’ll keep that in mind.’

Shortly afterward, Charlotte continued:

’Now, regarding what might happen during the auction. Apparently, there are some villains whose organization I’m unfamiliar with, but it seems their target is the auction’s final item.’

’So, whether the auction organizers are aware of it or not...’

Alessia finished Charlotte’s sentence.

’... all of Black City could descend into chaos. This is worrying.’

She frowned as her expression became increasingly serious.

’If there are people willing to steal the final item even in the presence of a Class 10 villain, that means they have some way of dealing with one, whether through a Relic or another Class 10 villain.’

In that case, there would be two Class 10 villains in Black City.

One would be the leader of one of the five organizations known as the Big Five, and the other might also belong to the Big Five or to an unknown organization.

But regardless of the situation, what worried Alessia the most was the possibility of two Class 10 villains ending up fighting each other.

Yes, Black City was located in the Infernal Plane, and no one outside would be harmed.

Yes, Black City was filled with villains, and no one would care if they got caught in a battle between two Class 10 individuals.

But the problem was that they were there as well—cadets who had not even graduated from the Academy.

Simply being in Black City already placed them in grave danger, if not for the preparations made by Director Bernice and the instructions she had given Alessia.

’I need to find a better escape method.’

A Plan B began to take shape in her mind. Meanwhile, the others gave their reports.

Shortly afterward, the reports came to an end.

Alessia then said:

’We don’t know how the auction will end, so first we’ll create an escape plan in case everything goes wrong. If you still have any money left, I need you to buy materials to create a Teleportation Array.’

All of them had entered the Infernal Plane through a Teleportation Array created by villains.

Entering the Infernal Plane was something only Nine-Star Awakened could do.

So, in theory, every member of the club had entered by force.

And naturally, leaving through normal means was impossible unless it was through a Teleportation Array.

Alessia waited for a response, but none came.

She frowned and asked:

’Don’t tell me...’

Everyone shook their heads.

The meaning was clear to Alessia.

’... You have no money left.’

’We’re sorry, Leader. We didn’t know the situation would turn out like this.’

’Yes, and the money was tight. It was only enough for the items on the list.’

’That’s right.’

"..."

Alessia let out a long sigh. The worst-case scenarios were already starting to appear during her second mission with her new members.

’I should have thought of that, right?’

She said to Zoey, but Zoey did not respond.

Zoey seemed lost in thought, and noticing this, Alessia said nothing else.

’So, what’s the escape plan, Leader?’

Julian asked.

Alessia thought for a long time, but she could not reach a conclusion.

’I don’t know. Unless we find other infiltrators, perhaps some secret team from the Academy. Maybe they have a Teleportation Matrix hidden somewhere.’

It was a faint hope, but it was not impossible. Alessia knew that Black City was not filled exclusively with villains.

There were traitors, nobles, aristocrats, ministers, chancellors, and there could even be a prince or princess from another continent.

Nothing was impossible, and naturally, spies were infiltrated everywhere.

’Let’s just hope we get lucky, but for now, let’s focus on the mission.’

Alessia looked at the dome while continuing to search for some kind of escape plan.

At first, she thought escaping would not be very difficult, as long as nothing unexpected happened.

But the unexpected always happened in places like this, where famous and highly wanted individuals could suddenly appear.

It was naive to think they would be able to leave without much trouble.

Because if they ended up stealing the item everyone had come for, then the people guarding the Teleportation Matrices through which everyone had arrived...

Would block every exit or kill anyone who even attempted to leave.

’I have my lucky ticket. I hope nothing goes wrong.’

It might have been a foolish thought, but for now she had no plan.

Normally, she could come up with a plan for any mission fairly quickly.

But they were in a place with only one way out.

’Go all the way to the last layer of the Infernal Plane, the Tomb of the Yellow King.’

Supposedly, there was a gate there that could take them back to the outside world.

But reaching it was impossible, and they would also have to cross eight layers. It was a long and far more dangerous journey.

’Alright, then let’s go.’

Alessia said, and shortly afterward, her club members began to work.

It was time to carry out their mission.

***

"Well, the Teleportation Matrix is finally complete."

I muttered while checking the surroundings with my senses.

I was currently outside Black City.

Though not too far away. Going more than a kilometer away from Black City would be far too dangerous.

’It won’t be possible to leave Black City once everything turns into chaos, so naturally, I need to create an escape route.’

Well, although I’m also planning to take the final item, provided it’s the third item I’m thinking of.

Since there are three items in total, each with a chance of being the final item of the Auction.

So I wouldn’t know which one it was unless I confirmed it myself.

In any case, I left the cave where I had been staying.

It was difficult, extremely difficult, to get out of Black City.

The special guests are being watched, and by using my senses, I somehow managed to avoid the gazes directed at me.

So now it was time to return to Black City before anyone noticed.

’The Auction should be starting any moment now.’