Shadow Cyber City /

Two Days before the War / 

____________

"Soul Saint's children, The Charity, knows about the mad researcher's plan regarding the Subject of the Pure Birth Demon. On behalf of the Soul Saint, she gave the Black Hunter power so that the mad scientist could complete his research."

"So, the War is about us against Black Hunter group to catch the mad scientist?" asked Jade.

The Bounty Hunter hangout / The Bar

The next day, Jade brought all of her party members totaling 31 people, 32 if she included.

They all came to hear the explanation regarding the plans for The War that they would face.

As a representative for Bounty Hunter, Arlene is not alone this time.

He is with a well-built, bald black man. And a skinny man wearing glasses that uses a personal computer device.

"Technically, yes."

The bald man is Mason. Leader of the Bounty Hunter Combat Division.

The visuals on AIT (Artificial Intelligence Table) change and show the face of a blurred certain woman face. Mason pointed at the woman screen.

"This is The Charity woman. Two years ago, this woman had come to this city. But we can't track her because she got protected by the City's Control Holder, Rob, the mad scientist himself."

AIT shows a face of a certain man whose face looks kind of crazy and tired. 

"This is Rob. The Mad Scientist. Our target."

Everyone looked closely at the man's face. Then remembered the face of a familiar person. 

"Hey, isn't that guy is the Founder and Developer of this city?" asked Hwang. 

Hwang's question brings the party member into realization.

"Yeah, he was the researcher who asked the Spear Saint to bring him to this Northeast region."

"He is also the missing number one researcher."

"Is that really him? But, he looks more crazy right now."

Everyone in Jade's party started rambling on about Rob, the mad scientist.

It cannot be denied because Rob was once the pride scientist Abyssal Hunter has. But, at that time, he teamed up with Black Hunter to create terrible monsters.

"All of you, stop!"

The order silenced the mouths of all of Jade's subordinates.

"Please continue."

Mason nodded and continued. 

"We have done some investigations regarding the relationship between the two of them. It includes several things which are ..."

Jade has several questions regarding Rob related to the past. She looks to Roger. The man sitting at the edge of the room. Roger noticed Jade's gaze and smiled regretfully to the floor.

Roger seems aware of Jade's unspoken question. But they can't talk about it now. 

"For that, we need your shield, Jade."

Jade refocuses on the meeting and responds to Mason's request. She folded both hands. With a serious face, answered. 

"I accept."

Mason and Arlene are happy about that. 

"But refuse to use my power inside this city."

But got disappointed after it. 

"Why is that?" asked Arlene. "If we want to intercept that crazy man, inside the city is the right place."

"Yes, but, this city, Windless Hill, is too small for Green Sky Shield. This boy needs to be in a wide area so he could bring out his true strength."

Mason and Arlene couldn't do anything about it.

That's where the IT guy showed off.

"How about in the midst of Northeast Conquered Path and Ruins of Ancient Cognity?"

The IT guy is typing on his computer, which is connected to AIT. Visual on AIT shows a 3d hologram map of the Northeast Region.

Mason understood what their partner meant.

"That's true. How about we put you in here?"

Mason pointed at a point on the 3d hologram map. At the point before the Ruins of Ancient Cognity. It's round the corner at Windless Hill. In the middle of the giant mountains.

"The only conquered territory in the northeast region is this Shadow Cyber City. The only path that could be passed is the path to the Ruins of Ancient Cognity. If you do the intercept there, there wouldn't be a problem with expending power of your shield, right?"

Jade closed her eyes for a moment. Thinking.

"Outside the safe area, huh? Actually, in order to release the full-potential of Green Sky Shield, I need high concentration and quite a long time."

There is still an issue of Jade's deployment. 

"But."

Looks like she already figured out the way out. 

"That is why I bring you guys here."

Those words were addressed to her subordinates. All main members of Jade the Green Tree Family.

However, all members were confused for a moment. Until a certain man stands up and shout.

"Yeah!"

That is Hwang. 

Unlike his other colleagues, who are still curious. He is very excited.

"We are going to save the world, guys! In order to do that, we need to protect our most precious leader so she could – AW!"

Jade hits Hwang on the head with the Green Sky Shield to shut his mouth. 

After Hwang shouted his enthusiasm, finally all the members realized what their roles are.

"Well, you heard him. Your job is to protect me from all distractions so that we can awaken this boy." 

Jade patted the Green Sky Shield. It somehow brought joy to the party members.

"Yeah, we finally get to see Green Boy again!"

"Green Boy Awakening!"

"Cheers for Green Boy!"

The excitement of all party members enlivened the whole bar.

Mason and Arlene don't know what happened. But since their allies could be that happy because of their leader, it meant they had a big chance of winning.

"Wow, I didn't expect to see this bar so alive."

The barmaid even surprised at the scene. 

Elisa who accompanied by the barmaid could only smile forced. Because she doesn't even know what factors make Jade's party members happy.

After the whole voice had calmed down, Mason continued.

"Alright, then, we are counting on you to intercept that mad scientist."

Jade and all members of the Green Tree Family accepted the request.

"Mason!"

Suddenly, the IT guy shouted with a tense expression of relief.

Mason looked back at Jade and her party. Then he put one finger to his mouth, asking everyone to be quiet.

Visual from AIT shows the sound visualization of an audio stream.

["The day is tomorrow, Ars!"]

["Yeah."]

Everyone takes that streaming audio seriously.

"It's him. But, who is this Ars?" asked Mason, curious.

Everyone may not know, but two certain person, Elisa and Arlene, they both got very surprised to hear who Rob is talking to.

["Finally, our dream!"]

["-That's not my dream."]

["It will come true! The dream where we hope to go out of this darkness!"]

["I'm happy for you. By the way, what's this?"]

["Eh?"]

["This blue, like electrical network kinda thing."]

["That! That must be them! The intruders! They are enemy!"]

["You're not answering my question. But, does this mean we are being hacked?"]

["Yes! We are being hacked! In fact, they have hacked me several times and are trying to trace my whereabouts!"]

["Doesn't that the meaning of being hacked? Well, where are you?"]

The IT guy started shaking with fear.

"Mason! We're being traced back!"

"What?!"

Mason also felt the fear felt by the IT guy.

"But how?! Aren't we using our own Abyssal Radiation network?!"

"I don't know! I can't even see what that Ars guy is doing! But I can feel it, he, is looking for our location!"

IT guy fears come true.

["Under the guild building?"]

Jade and the rest of the party don't know what happened. But hearing that their whereabout place was pronounced so easily made them feel goosebumps too.

["Under the guild building?! So that's the reason why I can't control them in downtown!"]

Rob was angry about something. Meanwhile, Ars feels amused somehow.

["Wew, I never thought I would enter into a story that had a real sci-fi element like this. Moreover, when the genre of this story is unclear itself. But, I'm still pleased. I don't know how many of you in there. One thing is for sure, you will definitely get in my way. Therefore, I warn you now, think twice before you do what you want to do. I'm serious."

IT guy is shaking violently. His fear led him to hit his computer and turn off the streaming audio.

"So scary! So scary! So scary! So scary!"

IT guy can't control himself because of the terror Ars gave.

Mason can't help that man. He turned and faced Jade. Unlike them, Jade and the members had serious expressions, they were ready to face anything, even Ars, who could terrorize them like that.

"So, any change of plans?" asked Jade.

Mason deeply regretted that, but, "Yes, looks like we have to redo the plan – "

"No!"

Someone's taking over the meeting.

It was Arlene. 

"No change of plans. I will face him myself."

Arlene showed the most serious face she could do. It was able to convince Masons to keep them going.

"All right, we'll do it according to plan."

After that determination, all the Green Tree Family members dispersed out.

"How about you, Elisa?"

"I'll settle down, wait with Sir Roger."

"Alright. I'll pick you up when this is all over."

Jade left Elisa at the bar, along with the barmaid and Roger who were still sitting quietly at the edge of the room.

Elisa came to Roger, with all the sad and regretful faces she could show.

"If only I know that was Aina all along."

Roger got up from the seat and hugged the girl who wanted to cry. Embraced her. 

"Don't worry. It's not your fault. This is just beyond our expectations. We can't go back to yesterday to fix all this. All we can do is move forward and face all this."