One month later...!
That was the duration it took for everyone to properly recover, especially the members of the Alliance, whose battered bodies desperately needed time to heal. Meanwhile, the world outside was undergoing a drastic, terrifying transformation. Every street corner, local broadcast, and public forum buzzed with panic regarding the recent underground catastrophes. Law enforcement and government task forces were working around the clock, while citizens everywhere reacted with growing dread.
Inside the Alliance hideout, the atmosphere was heavy yet resolute. Everyone was present—including Arisa and even Ren.
Hollow's condition had improved significantly compared to his near-death state, though Arisa, Elena, and Saito still bore faint, visible scars and lingering bruises. After all, they were only human; healing from a collision with monsters took time.
Saito was seated at his workbench, meticulously fine-tuning the framework of their next-generation combat suits. Stepping forward, Elena tapped the main digital screen, pulling up a tactical briefing to outline their next move.
VOLUME 3 - CHAPTER : 30 - BEGINS...!!
Elena: "Based on everything we've managed to piece together since last time, they are experimenting with materials and chemical compounds that are either virtually impossible to find naturally on Earth, or completely alien to public records. Plus, because of heavy political leverage and high-stakes corruption, the government is fully aligned with SS PARTNERS, ready to back them up at a moment's notice."
Elena tapped a glowing coordinate on the regional map: [ Grayson ]
Elena: "This is definitely it—the last remaining active sub-branch located in the outskirts, and the only one still fully operational. Grayson is undoubtedly our next target! But this time, we have to approach it with absolute tactical precision. We barely escaped with our lives last time; we won't be lucky twice."
Saito pushed himself up from his workbench, walking over with a heavy sigh.
Saito: "The real problem is that we still don't know what the government and SS PARTNERS are actually trying to achieve. Because their endgame is a complete mystery, predicting their next move is almost impossible. What kind of monstrous results are they expecting from these human experiments? We still have no clue."
He gestured toward the newly upgraded equipment on his desk.
Saito: "On the bright side, our suits have been upgraded multiple times since our last clash. This time, I've synthesized a completely new super-element by fusing several high-density thermal and kinetic elements together. Our combat performance should blow our previous limits out of the water."
Listening intently, Arisa and Hollow digested the plan.
Hollow: "So then... when do we move out for the next mission, and what's the primary objective?"
Saito: "Probably within the next day or two. Things are getting way too chaotic inside the main city limits, which means we need to wrap things up quickly before the net tightens around us. As for the objective—intelligence gathering, once again. At the very least, we need to find out what they're trying to accomplish through these twisted experiments."
Arisa gently squeezed Ren's hand, offering him a reassuring smile.
With that quiet moment of human warmth, the scene shifted completely—cutting away to an apartment miles away, where Kye sat in the dark, staring blankly at the television screen.
News Anchor: "Over the past few months, the outskirts surrounding our cities have turned into warzones. Constant waves of destruction and unexplained blasts have left the public terrified. We urge all citizens to avoid stepping outside during nighttime hours, as the majority of these violent incidents occur under the cover of darkness. The government and defense institutions are preparing to take strict, uncompromising action—please stay safe, everyone!"
With a cold scoff, Kye clicked the remote, changing the channel.
Kye: "Huh. 'Strict action'? Or are you just trying to feed more lies to the sheep?"
His dark eyes narrowed at the screen, a quiet, festering rage boiling beneath his breath.
"How much further are you bastards planning to push this? Do you seriously despise seeing innocent people live in peace? Does the thought of ordinary human happiness make you sick to your stomachs? I suppose humans truly are humanity's greatest enemies... Everyone only looks out for their own selfish gains; nobody wants to make a real sacrifice. Everyone wants endless wealth, but no one wants to earn it through honest means. Everyone wants to live... yet they refuse to let anyone else draw a peaceful breath."
Right as the gloomy thoughts echoed in his mind, the broadcast flashed, cutting to a live, high-profile press conference.
The screen displayed four legendary figures—individuals wielding absolute, world-level economic and political influence.
The Four Co-Founders of SS PARTNERS:
* Leonardo di Whitemore
* Vincent La Ashbourne
* Adrian Blackwood
* Victor Ashford
Today, for the first time in history, these four untouchable titans had stepped out of the shadows to address the relentless string of catastrophes plaguing SS Partners. After months of silence, the true masterminds behind the empire were finally going to speak... and deliver their verdict to the world.
Victor Ashford stepped up to the central podium, adjusting his impeccably tailored suit as he flashed a calm, reassuring smile toward the blinding sea of camera flashes.
Victor: "First and foremost, I want to make one thing completely clear. Our organization is built on absolute perfection, so there is no need for public panic whatsoever. As the Head Chief of this organization... we are actively investigating the root cause behind these disturbances to find out precisely what is going on."
Leonardo di Whitemore took over the microphone next, his expression projecting corporate authority and benevolence.
Leonardo: "Furthermore, we and the government are preparing to launch a joint tactical operation to streamline things. We will be providing them with our cutting-edge tech support to resolve this issue as swiftly as possible."
Adrian Blackwood leaned in, his tone firm and unwavering
Adrian: "So, the public has nothing to fear. If any harm comes to our citizens, we will not stand by and do nothing. Whoever is responsible for these reckless actions won't be escaping our reach for long."
Vincent La Ashbourne nodded in firm agreement, offering a polished, charismatic smile.
Vincent: "Precisely! As the world's largest conglomerate, it is our solemn promise to utilize our absolute best assets to solve every single problem at hand. Remember, we are primarily a space, advanced tech, and global energy enterprise... which means we possess more than enough specialized resources to handle any crisis."
Victor stepped back to the center to wrap up the broadcast.
Victor: "So, everyone, please remain calm—we have everything completely under control. Besides, the government will be holding their own official press conference shortly, so please stay tuned for further updates."
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP
Deafening applause echoed through the auditorium as the live audience of invited citizens and reporters cheered in relief. Across the city, camera cuts shifted to various households and public screens.
Seeing such monumental, untouchable figures step forward to personally guarantee their safety worked like magic. The public panic instantly began to dissolve; witnessing the leaders of the world's most powerful enterprise promise protection brought a sudden wave of renewed hope and trust back to the citizens.
But these cheap, masterfully orchestrated public relations tactics didn't fool Kye for even a second.
'Just how low are these bastards willing to sink?'
Kye stared coldly at the television screen, a cynical, dark smile breaking across his face. In his hand, he casually tapped Grimm's encrypted smartphone, the screen glowing in the dim light of his apartment.
With that broadcast echoing across the globe, the scene abruptly shifted—cutting away to a completely different location.
Inside a lavishly decorated, high-security luxury suite, Daigo and Mira sat in silence. Across from them sat a mysterious third figure, shrouded entirely in deep shadow.
His face remained completely obscured from view.
Just who was this unknown individual pulling the strings from the shadows?
Judging by his silhouette cast against the dim lights, the unknown man was remarkably tall, and his voice radiated an eerie, chillingly calm composure.
Daigo: "So, what exactly do you expect us to do? I honestly don't think we have any other options left at this point, do we?"
Unknown Man: "Precisely. You two have always been among my absolute favorites..." He paused, a subtle, cryptic smile evident in his tone. "...Dr. Z and Dr. X."
Mira's expression tightened as she stood up, brushing down her clothes.
Mira: "We understand. Just transmit the rest of the briefing data later; we're heading out now."
Unknown Man: "Along with the intel, make sure you report directly to the main chamber of the headquarters. For now, let's bring this meeting to a close."
With that, the scene abruptly shifted back to Kye.
He was walking quietly down a desolate street when his phone suddenly chimed.
Looking at the screen, he saw it was an incoming call from Kael. Without hesitation, Kye swiped to accept.
Kael: "Kye... I managed to get my hands on some extremely critical files. Do you want to take a look? I think this might help clear up a lot of things for you. I accidentally stumbled upon these details while visiting my dad's place today, and as your best friend, I didn't feel right keeping this a secret from you."
Kye's eyes narrowed slightly, though a faint sense of trust softened his gaze.
Kye: "I understand. Tell me... where should we meet? I'll head right over."
Kye's phone buzzed with an incoming GPS coordinate sent by Kael. Without a single second of hesitation—placing his absolute, unwavering faith in his best friend—Kye turned on his heel and set off toward the location.
[ END OF CHAPTER 30 ]