"I... I’m not sure," Rax replied, frustration rising in his voice. "Everything was clean. You entered from the lower floor, and the hotel records were wiped. But someone... someone must’ve tipped them off."
He hesitated for a second before adding, "And I think they’re here for you, boss. Somehow, they’ve got clues that you’re the Monster from the other side."
Igaris narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. "They probably recorded me when I subdued those five thugs earlier. I’ll need to be more careful from now on."
"You should flee through the secret exit," Rax urged, his voice tense. "They could be here any minute now."
"Okay..." Igaris replied, then paused. "But are you absolutely sure that exit isn’t compromised?"
"Yes. Of course. No one else knows about it except me," Rax said with confidence. "I built it in secret. And those who did know... I killed them all."
He said it so casually, it almost sounded like a routine statement. Igaris could only imagine how many people were killed, including the innocent builders.
Rax had disposed of them just to keep a secret.
Igaris frowned slightly at the callousness but didn’t say anything. He understood men like Rax. The type who killed without batting an eye. Ruthless, opportunistic, and dangerous.
They were the kind of scum that needed to be erased eventually.
And he would erase Rax too.
But only after he had fully served his purpose.
"Officer, are you sure that the Monster Boy is inside?"
A commanding female voice echoed from a blue Mecha shaped like a war goddess, adorned with butterfly wings.
Despite being just 5 meters tall, the Mecha exuded deadly grace. Sleek yet intimidating, it was equipped with a long enchanted sword that shimmered in the dim light of the dawn.
The officer, riding a different Mech nearby, nodded firmly. "Yes, Madam. We’re certain. We’ve been tracking the Black Daggers for years. This is their hidden base... and we confirmed that the Monster Boy entered this location."
The woman inside the butterfly-winged Mech remained silent for a moment, her sensors sweeping the hotel from rooftop to foundation.
Then, a voice came from another Mech.
This one was more aggressive-looking one. Its armor was muscular, glowing red at the joints, and it wielded twin sabers. The Mecha had a wild and untamed aura, like a beast barely leashed.
"Sister Aluna, can we talk for a second?" the pilot inside said.
Aluna turned her Mech’s head slightly toward the speaker. "What is it, Daisy?"
Instead of responding aloud, Daisy initiated a secure, encrypted channel.
> Sister Aluna, this is our only chance. We should track that Monster secretly. We’ve already spent 18 days in this world. That leaves only 12 before we return to Orca.
> And what have we achieved so far? A few relics and Mech blueprints. Sure, they’ll bring prestige and more resources to our House. But what about us? We would be weak as we were. Probably, they marry us to another useless young master.
> But this Monster... if we can track him, if we uncover the Summoner Arts he holds... maybe we’ll be something different. Someone greater. Even if these temporary bodies can’t become Summoners... what if our real bodies could?
Daisy’s voice remained calm, but her eyes glimmered with an intense hunger for strength.
Aluna remained quiet for several seconds, weighing Daisy’s words. Her Mech’s grip on the sword tightened slightly as thoughts raced through her mind.
But before she could respond, an officer’s voice crackled through the command channel:
"Madam! Apologies. We’ve finished sweeping all levels. Every room. Even the secret underground chambers. But the Monster Boy... he’s gone. They have escaped!"
The officer lowered his head, his Mech bowing in shame. Around him, other units fell into silence, stunned by the news of failure.
This was their chance to gain promotion and fame, and it was gone just like that.
Aluna’s glowing eyes narrowed. Her Mech turned toward the hotel’s foundation.
"Daisy, follow me!" Aluna commanded, her Mech lifting into the air with the graceful flutter of butterfly wings.
Daisy grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement. She surged forward with powerful strides, her muscular Mech built for speed and combat. Twin sabers gleamed in each mechanical arm, radiating a deadly elegance as she kept close behind her sister.
They left behind the stunned officers and the failed operation, focusing solely on their new target.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town:
Igaris emerged from a hidden passage beneath an old building, followed by Rax and a small group of loyal thugs. They moved quietly, crouched and alert, their boots echoing faintly through the underground route.
Once they reached the surface, they didn’t pause. They headed straight for a new safehouse, a place prepared in advance for emergencies .
As they walked through a narrow, silent alley, Igaris turned to Rax. His tone was calm but commanding.
"Have you gathered information about the Calamity family?"
"Yes, we have," Rax said quickly. "But... we didn’t find anything on the two individuals you mentioned. Still, the overall data on House Calamity might be useful to you."
"I see," Igaris muttered. "Tell me everything once we arrive. This is important."
He glanced around briefly before adding, "Also, tell our men to find detailed layouts of military bases. I want to know where the Mechs are stationed and ready for deployment."
Rax froze for a second, clearly unsettled. "Military bases? Boss, those are tightly guarded. Classified. If we poke around the wrong one... they won’t just send enforcers. We could be wiped out."
Igaris didn’t even slow his pace. "They won’t catch us. Just bring me the intel. I’ll handle the rest. None of you need to get involved."
Rax nodded slowly. "Ah... yes. Understood."
Despite his fear, Rax obeyed. He’d seen what Igaris was capable of. Questioning him further was pointless.
The other thugs followed in silence. Some exchanged glances of disbelief, while others looked at Igaris with growing awe. His presence radiated unshakable confidence and control. He wasn’t like their old leaders. He was bold, cunning, and unafraid of challenging the powers that ruled the Paradis.
Just then, buzzing sounds of wings echoed on top of the sky.
It was unmistakably sounds of a Mech, a powerful one at that.