Lyrical Sword

Chapter 12: Trust

Beta read by Opal

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“Report.” 

It was an unsettling moment in the usually predictable confines of the facility. The cold, steely contempt and arrogance that once filled the air had melted away, replaced by a heavy cloak of weariness, simmering curiosity, and a barely contained rage. Jail couldn't remember the last time he'd suffered so many setbacks in rapid succession. 

For days, it seemed as though every carefully laid plan unraveled at the worst possible moment. His thoughts swirled with suspicion—was there a traitor in their midst? 

But the chances of that were ridiculously low; his inner circle was tight-knit, each one the numbers' loyalty were unquestionably solid and generally a waste of time to even entertain. Yet, doubt gnawed at him, forcing him to reconsider Zest to be the one behind this. He had Cinque on close watch, observing him around the clock to ensure his actions were beyond reproach. But even then, it seemed unlikely. "We don't see eye to eye, but we do share a common enemy," he mused to himself, his brow furrowed in thought. "He wouldn't just feed her to the wolves for the sake of revenge. He's not that heartless... not yet."

"Uno reporting. All six groups have been successfully deployed as instructed. They've managed to breach the outer zone of the radar undetected, with minimal acoustic and energy signatures. We’ll reach the inner layers of the northern zone in T-minus five minutes," the voice of a tall, silver-haired woman cut through his thoughts, her face flickering onto his screen. Her expression remained as cold as ice, but her tone was laced with a subtle respect as she relayed the update to her creator.

"Quattro and Sein are in position. The others will be ready in a matter of minutes, well before we reach the city’s outskirts," she continued, her words efficient, precise.

"Good," Jail muttered, his eyes scanning the data and maps projected on the screens before him. The intricate detail of the layout of both the outer regions of Midchilda laid bare for him to study, a web of his operation was unfolding smoothly so far with a precision that brought him some measure of satisfaction. "These drones were hastily assembled. I didn’t have time to test them properly, but this is a good opportunity to see if they perform as expected. Keep monitoring enemy movements, and report back the moment the others have secured their positions."

"Understood," The woman responded, but instead of ending the transmission, she hesitated. A flicker of emotion—uncertainty, perhaps—crossed her eyes, causing Jail to raise an eyebrow. It was rare, almost unheard of, for his first creation to show hesitation or doubt. Yet, given the recent events, he had a good guess as to what troubled her.

"It’s about Luticia, isn’t it?" he stated, his voice firm and unwavering — certain why this topic bothered Uno given her prior relationship with the child. The question caught her off guard, her composure slipping for just a split second before she quickly regained it.

"Yes, I... I apologize," she replied, a hint of regret in her tone.

"Don’t be," he interjected smoothly. Uno had always followed orders without question, but this time was different. He knew she wasn't doubting the success of the operation—her concerns were rooted elsewhere. She was likely grappling with the aftermath of what they had been ordered to do. "Luticia is an important asset, that much is still very much the truth. We can't afford to let her fall into the enemy's hands, she'll be used against us and possess valuable information… which I suspect she hasn't shared with them yet. Her potential is vast—she could be a crucial piece in this operation and in our future plans. I’m certain that leaving her at Regius Gaiz mercy will only turn the naïve girl against us eventually. So, when the others find her, they are not to engage with hostility. Make her see reason."