n

n

nWallace's mobile device was suddenly flooded by notifications. There were unread messages and missed calls after he finished a set of training in learning the second stage of AOTL. He had given advice to Avalon not to disturb him in his training unless it is very urgent.

nAs he was about to check the messages, an incoming call from his mother came.

n

"Mom? What's up?

"

n

"Wallace, are you at home in your workshop?

"

n

"Eh? Not really... Why?

"

n

"Your instructors at the academy told me that you were out... I've been calling you for a while now. Are you safe? By any chance, are you near the terrorist attacks?

"

nWallace went silent as he was trying to understand what was happening. He looked at the floating metal ball in the hope of getting some light in the situation.

n ...

n The Tanza City is under siege from a terrorist group called Black Knights.

nA voice was heard from the earphone connected to Avalon.

n'Huh? Since when?!'

nWallace didn't voice it out as his mother was still on his mobile device.

n

"Yes. I'm safe! I'm about to go home. Don't worry about me. I will contact you from time to time.

"

n

"Is your home safe?

"

n

"Yes! It is heavily protected. Do you remember the automaton I made during the competition? I made something better than that. There's also the security added by the Golden Trident Group! That should be enough.

"

n

"I don't think that's enough!

"

n

"There should be a shelter for evacuees, right? Just join them. I will feel less worried if that's the case.

"

n'Shelter? Evacuees?' Wallace thought as he suddenly remembers the evacuation procedures taught to them.

n

"Ah! Right. Of course. I will do so... Don't worry about me...

"

nWallace answered as they ended the phone call. Soon, he tried to get all the news he missed from Avalon.

nAfter taking a moment to understand the current situation, he realized that going back to the city will be too dangerous, and staying here at the hotel might be more beneficial to him.

n'But people will try to look for me later on... I have to be present once everything calmed down.'

nWallace thought as he wanted to make sure that no one will realize that he infiltrated one of the bases of Z-Company.

n

"Avalon, keep me updated on the current situation of the city..

"

n Affirmative.

nWallace then immediately packs up as he decided to be in a nearby village or town from Tanza City to ensure that he can immediately use Void Phase and arrive somewhere near the shelter.

n You still have unread messages from the Headmaster and others. Would you like to read them?

n

"Ah! That's right.

" Wallace quickly read the headmaster's and his classmate's messages that were similarly concerned with his well-being. He quickly replied to them so they can have peace of mind that he is still alive.

n***

nInside one of the protected shelters within the city...

nIt only took about half an hour before the authorities confirmed that most of the civilians were already safe in the shelters underground. These shelters were heavily protected and even aerial bombardment would not be felt from the inside.

nA few police officers were together with the civilians within the shelter to ensure everyone's safety and order. They were also in charge of communicating with the authorities outside.

n

"I guess... We can say that we are somehow lucky that the detachment force of the Black Knights didn't cause tremendous damage to the city...

"

n

"Mhm... They didn't target the civilians and instead focused on hunting the City Mayor...

"

nIt was the truth. Just thinking about a group of several dozens of powerful magicians causing havoc in the streets of their city, killing innocent civilians, and destroying buildings and roads, they felt that it would be very difficult to save the citizens. Especially if they use them as hostages or even act as civilians to create more damages.

nIt may really be a blessing that they just want the head of the City Mayor which was now in hiding as the police forces started to hunt the remaining terrorist inside the city.

n***

nOutside the building of Golden Trident Group...

n

"Why is this place looking deserted?

"

n

"Use your detectors! Can you confirm that those cores were still inside the building?

" The leader asked as he felt something amiss.

nOne of the six magicians in their midst brought out a small golden bell before shaking it once to activate the magic spell imbued within. The sound of the bell wasn't loud but the wind suddenly got stronger before calming down in a few seconds.

n

"The cores were all concentrated on the top floor of the building.

"

n

"They were surely expecting us... What do we do?

"

n

"Are you scared~?

"

n

"I'm not! Don't you realize that if they are expecting us, they definitely put some traps inside!

"

n

"Aren't we at least prepared for that?

"

nTheir team was the elite force of their organization so no one was truly scared. They just didn't expect that the best security company in the city have a very poor defense within their main headquarters. It alarmed them for a possible ambush from the enemy.

n

"The 12th Phantom squad who attacked the City Mayor, Ma'am Avery who was assigned to take on the strongest person in the City, and Sir Avarice with his slaves to hold off the members of the Lucent Force and the soldiers... didn't we prepare enough already?! We can't give up this opportunity or we will become a disgrace in the Order of the Black Knight!

"

nThe leader of the six passionately said as he fully trusts the helpers they have this time. Two of them were even Sealed Mana Artifact wielders.

nAs soon as they took the cores of those automatons, even if many members of the organization might perish today, it will be their victory!

n

"Everyone! Get into your position... We'll attack the building on my signal!

"

n

"Yes!

"

n***

n

"It started, huh...

"

nPercival glanced at the crimson rain falling from the sky.

n'Hmmm... It should be about five minutes before the barrier will fully corrode and collapse...'

nHe had quickly estimated how long the barrier could last as he controlled his mana to trace the source of the spell activation.

n'This large scale magic activation will at least tell me where you are...'

nIt didn't take long before he found the lady who was the source of the magic.

n

"Found you!

"

nHe then quickly used his Superior Haste as he appeared in front of the lady.

nThe lady was young and looked like someone who just left an evening party with her elegant dress.

n

"So... Our intelligence was really correct. Sigh~

"

nPercival sighed upon confirming the identity of the lady.

n

"Oh? So you were already on me?

"

n

"Yes... We've been trying to find pieces of evidence against you just recently... but you were just too clean. We know you were involved with the Silent Enigmas and even formed alliance to create the Black Knights...

"

n

"I'm impressed!

"

n

"Don't be... If not for your careless member of alliance whom we captured alive, we wouldn't have a lead...

"

n'Well, we really have to thank Wallace for that. It has always been a struggle to capture any of your members alive...' Percival said in his mind in addition.

n

"So, Avery... do you want me to help you stop that corrosive rain, or will you stop it yourself?

"

n

"Hahaha! You are funny Headmaster Percival! Why don't you try me?!

"

nAvery then pulled open the Heart's Grimoire as a signal for the battle to start.

n***

n

"Heart's Grimoire?

" Erica, Gilbert, and other classmates who were listening to Kenneth asked at the same time.

nIt was the first time they heard such Sealed Mana Artifact.

n

"That is correct. I even heard of some others like Mourning Ear and Mind's Arm...

"

n

"Oooohh! You know a lot, Kenneth!

"

nMany of the students praised Kenneth's knowledge about the topic.

nBut opposite to their expectation, Kenneth's expression turned sad after he heard this and shakes his head as he continued to explain.

n

"I thought that it was just an exaggeration that there was a possible attack in this city... Although some even took it seriously as they transferred to different schools to make sure that they will not be affected...

"

n

"Wait... don't tell me-

"

n

"Yes, I heard rumors and such but I didn't take it seriously. After all, no one confirmed the situation to the public. I thought that it can be settled quietly due to the efforts of the authorities... Unfortunately, it is already happening...

n

"But I know that the police together with the Lucent Force will win against these terrorists!

"

nSoon, Kenneth shared all the insider information he was aware of in order to lessen the worry of his classmates. It will assure them that the terrorist attack wasn't a complete ambush to the authorities but something they are somewhat prepared for.

n

"Hey! But you didn't tell what the terrorist wanted here. Why did they attack this city? Do they have a grudge to the City Mayor?

"

n

"Oh... I wasn't completely sure and only have an idea. Haven't you notice anything from the names of the Sealed Mana Artifacts?

"

n

"Eh? Wait...

"

nJust a couple of seconds passed as they quickly noticed the similarities of the four artifacts he named but this was still just another question bugging their minds.

n