[Dame Wasp: Master, my cybernetics have a clear view of the storm's origin. As you suspected, it's the work of curse masters.
Dame Wasp: Twelve powerful curse masters have trapped the twister in a hexagonal prism barrier, separating it from the earth below and the sky above. However, they're not destroying it—only containing it. This seems deliberate.
Dame Wasp: Based on my calculations, both the twister and the hexagonal prism are directly over the resort we visited this week at Treasure Lake.
Ace: I have a feeling this is about the Sole Ring. Rose, can your cybernetics zoom in on the twister and see what's inside the barrier? Something tells me those curse masters are trapping more than just a tornado.
Dame Wasp: You're right, Master. They're trapping Delores. She's... riding the twister on a surfboard. This might really be about the Sole Ring.
Ace: What about Janice? Is she with Delores?
Ace: That's bad. If Delores is trapped, Janice must have been left to fend for herself.
Dame Wasp: I don't think so, Master. I monitored the principal's phone. He received a message from his wife saying Crimson Eyes is on the scene, and other C.I.B. agents are en route to assist him and protect the civilians.
Ace: Rose, you're incredible, you know that? I don't think I've told you how amazing you are enough.
Dame Wasp: Master, we might be able to help Delores free herself and also test the Rail Rifle. I have a clear shot from my position, with your permission I would like to take it.
Ace: Are you serious? Rose, those curse masters are likely Ocean-tier at least if they're going up against Delores. The Rail Rifle is barely a mortal-tier curse tool. Even if we hit our mark, it might do nothing more than scratch them.
Dame Wasp: Normally, you'd be right, Master. But I plan to tap into the town's electric grid to power the Rail Rifle. With that extra energy, I'm confident even if we fail to take them down, the shot should be enough to create a distraction and give Delores the opening she needs to free herself.
Ace: Fuck it! If not for Janice covering for us, this could've easily been us in that trap.
Ace: Keep me updated through the Status Screen. Better yet, cast the feed to my phone. I want to see the Rail Rifle's in its full glory.
Dame Wasp: Roger that!
Once the crowd stuffed in the gymnasium seemed under control and everyone had settled down, Ace found a secluded spot to rest. He summoned Dame Wasp in her stealth mode, instructing her to scout and uncover what was truly causing the storm. It had appeared almost out of nowhere, completely absent from the weather forecast. A creeping sense of déjà vu settled over him as he recalled the day Crimson Eyes and the C.I.B. agents nearly burned his neighborhood to the ground while hunting down the cursemasters of the Steel Song Society (S.S.S.).
His instincts told him this was no ordinary storm, and he was right. The situation was far worse than it seemed. A dozen powerful cursemasters had converged on Treasure lake, targeting Janice and Delores. Though Janice had plenty of enemies, the timing of this attack made Ace suspect the Sole Ring was at the center of it. If Janice hadn't taken the cursed ring off his hands, it might have been the death of him. He owed her—deeply. That debt weighed heavily on him when he listened to Dame Wasp's proposal to help Delores so after a moment's thought, he gave her his permission with a firm nod.
Having made up his mind, Ace knew he needed to act swiftly. He turned to his family and, masking the urgency in his voice, excused himself. "Mom, I'm going to the restroom," he said, slipping away from the group.
The gymnasium, once a place of elegance and celebration, was now tightly packed with anxious bodies. People shuffled and murmured, leaving barely enough room to maneuver. The air was heavy with unease, but at least there was food and water left over from the gala's buffet. He was eager to eat but couldn't taste anything thanks to the storm. Though calm Ace felt the tension was growing, amplified by the wailing of restless children and the complaints of the intoxicated. Ace gritted his teeth as the chaos pressed in around him.
His sharp eyes scanned the room. Everyone was on edge, their nerves stretched taut by the relentless storm outside. He could feel the crowd teetering on the brink of a violent outburst. If that happened, the handful of cops and school guards stationed there wouldn't stand a chance against a frenzied mob. The C.I.B. agents had to arrive soon as every second that passed was one second closer to a riot with in the gymnasium.
When Ace approached the restroom, he noticed a small queue had formed. With all the windows and doors barricaded, there was nowhere were Emi could squeeze her voluptuous body out of the gymnasium unnoticed, so he joined the line, waiting his turn. His plan was simple yet delicate: use the small gap in the restroom's exhaust fan to summon his cursed toybox outside the gymnasium. This would allow him to summon Emi directly outside the gymnasium without drawing any attention.
As he stood in line, Ace's eyes wandered and fell on the gleaming '2024 FIAT 500e: Inspired By Beauty' displayed on a stage nearby. Its pink-gold exterior sparkled under the decorative lights, framed by big shiny bow and balloons. The car was the grand prize for the raffle draw. Ace planned to gift this pinkgold beauty to his sister as an apology for his poor choice of words earlier today. As a cursemaster, he could afford to make such a grand gesture. However, now the raffle draw was indefinitely postponed leaving him hanging.
When the line finally inched forward, Ace's eyes landed on a ventilation vent beside him. He tapped his fingers lightly against his leg, a thoughtful frown crossing his face. Believing it might be faster than waiting for his turn, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching, he subtly adjusted his posture to block the view of what he was about to do.
Ace summoned the cursed toybox into the ventilation ducts. Moments later, Emi materialized inside it, her 'Invisible' talisman already activated. He exhaled quietly, the tension in his shoulders easing as his plan moved into motion.
Confident Emi had what she needed, Ace stepped away from the line and casually made his way back to his family's side, slipping his phone from his pocket. His thumb hovered over the screen as he waited for Dame Wasp to cast the video feed. Just then the status screen popped up, displaying Emi's update.
[Emi: Master, I am out. Heading towards senpai's location.]
Ace smirked faintly, his grip on the phone tightening. "Good," he muttered under his breath, the corners of his mouth lifting in satisfaction as the next phase began to unfold.