Chapter 28: Trigger Condition

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Author's Note:

MF Season 2 finale is coming up soon. Chapter 29 will be uploaded on November 26 (3 weeks from now). I'm taking an extra week to focus on my launch for Arcane Exfil.

Patrons can read up to a month ahead.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/drdoritosmd

– –

December 22, 2024

Eldralore Academy

"Still nothing?" Henry asked. Around the dining table, the rest of Alpha Team simply shrugged or shook their heads.

Ryan looked up from his notebook. "Nah, got nothin' at all."

"Well," Dr. Anderson interjected, "the Dean did find Valtor's background – or lack thereof – rather suspicious."

"But no physical evidence of espionage," Henry guessed.

The Doc shook his head.

The news was unfortunate but expected for any talented operative. They may as well have been working against a KGB super-spy, adept in OPSEC and combat all the same. However, Henry knew they were capable of slipping up; the revelation in the forest was evidence enough of their limits. It was only a matter of time before the next one occurred. Hopefully, they'd find something during their excursion to the arena.

Henry gathered his things. "Got one last major place to check. Let's see if Valtor's tryna mess around with the tournament."

Arenas: the terrorist's playground of choice, whether dealing with Earth's finest nutcases or Gaerra's magically inclined psychopathic assassins. Predictable, really. Henry had to admit, if the Nobians were planning something, this would be the place.

One well-executed strike and voila – Eldralore's magical society gets a surprise facelift, minus a few hundred faces. The cream of Sonaran potential, wiped clean – from rising students to nobles who'd probably never lifted a finger in their lives, all conveniently gathered in one place like a gift-wrapped present. It'd be catastrophic, not to mention the political fallout for Sonara over the deaths of international guests in attendance.

He could almost admire the efficiency, if it wasn't so utterly horrifying. They'd accomplish the elimination of powerful assets and the tactical pruning of the next generation, all while sending a message that the Nobians were already in Sonaran cities, simply waiting to strike. Subtle as a sledgehammer, yet undeniably effective.

At the arena's entrance, Henry nodded toward one of the guards present. Just a few days building trust with Lyrus had been well worth it. The guard stepped to the side, granting access as if it had been decided long before they arrived.

Walking inside, Henry pulled out his handheld EMF meter – no oddities yet. "Alright. Owens, you're with me for the upper levels – let's check the VIP area and seats. Hayes, Yen, Doc, look through the ground floor. Focus on any structural supports, columns, beams, and load-bearing walls. Anything that could conceal or anchor something. Keep an eye on high-traffic areas too – walkways, stairs, entrances, exits."

Henry started with the grand staircase leading to the VIP section. The device remained silent, its display showing only the ambient magical energy of the surrounding environment.

"Huh," he muttered, reaching the top. "Nothing on the main approach."

"Strange?" Ron asked.

Henry looked back at the stairway. "Maybe. Probably not high-traffic enough to warrant traps."

"Yeah," Ron scratched his chin, looking around the vast arena, "but shit, there's like 30 other stairways. Tons of places to hide."

Henry nodded. "Yeah, alright. Let's clear this out. I'll take the north side."

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⏰ Last updated: Nov 05 ⏰

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