Chapter 5: Recuperating

Rose woke up in a hospital room.

The last thing she remembered is a few summoners struggling in vain to escape their bonds while one dying summoner said in a distant, bitter voice.

"Is this the end? Everything I worked so hard for, was blown to dust. Forgive me, kiddo, for I've fallen to the dark side. Take all my knowledge. Beware, lest the darkness consumes you, child."

Then his wizened old hand conjured up a good as a new old book. It floated in the air before landing right next to her.

" Watashi wa anata ni watashi no chisiki o sajukemasu."

translation: " I bestow my knowledge on you."

After he finished chanting, a pure white badge with the emblem of a woman wearing a helmet in the front and a hawk at the back of the emblem appeared at the top of the book.

"That's the symbol of intelligence. Use that knowledge wisely. Farewell, kiddo."

Then he breathed his last, closed his eyes, and faded from existence.

After that, Rose remembered being lifted onto a stretcher and falling asleep.

She looked around the hospital room.

A nearby nurse on duty noticed that she is already awake.

" Miss Rose? It's a pleasure to meet you in person. You're looking for your phone?"

Then the nurse handed me my phone.

She checked the time. It's already 8 in the morning.

She immediately scrolled at the news.

Out of all the 12 Renegade Faction Leaders, 6 escaped, with 2 captured and 4 dead.

The majority of the Renegade high officials died. Some of them managed to escape, while a few got captured.

The thirteenth, rumored to be the grand leader, hasn't made his move yet.

Rose grinned. They not only messed up their plans but also caused serious damage to that outlawed group.

But she knew it won't be long before they'll wreak havoc again and regain their strength.

Then she glanced at the table beside her bed.

She saw a basket full of fruits, much-needed medicine, and flowers. There's also a handwritten note.

It read "Get well soon. Sorry I couldn't assist you a lot at the battle. I almost got myself captured yesterday. I love you, Rose.

From: Tashiro."

She smiled after reading the note.

He's always the clever one in the Unit devising traps and avoiding capture.

He taught her to be clever and think two steps ahead.

She sat up with the assistance of the nurse and gestured for him to hand over the book the old summoner passed on to me.

She examined it.

She also looked at the badge right on top of it.

What does it contain? Memories of the summoner?

The summoner definitely didn't look simple and came from a formidable background.

I'll check into it later.

She thought to herself.

Then she saw a box of chocolates alongside a bouquet of flowers. There's also a note written on it.

"Hi, Rose. This is an old friend and subordinate of your uncle. Can we meet and talk sometime? Here's my number.

Kenji Minato"

"Looks like you have a suitor, Rose."

The nurse teased her.

Tashiro is at the Headquarters of the Elorian Secret Service, getting debriefed, relaxing, and lying low in the meantime.

He almost got himself captured yesterday. He sensed two higher-ranked agents on the side of the Renegades hot on his trail when the lights went out.

So, he had to get out of there yesterday, as fast as possible.

With the outlaw group thrown into chaos, they won't give up on finding and capturing those they suspected to betray them that easily.

He had to move constantly and do it incognito.

He didn't know when the situation will die down, but he knew it wouldn't take long.

He is at least grateful for the Premier's protection.

He also got wind of info not disclosed during the Masquerade Ball yesterday.

He isn't sure if the remaining Leaders will push through with their original plan or not.

But one thing he's certain about is that the enemies will pull off a counterattack as a quick reply to their losses.

The only question to be answered is where and when.

Kokoro woke up in a hospital room.

She struggled to sit up and is assisted by a nurse.

She looked around the room.

"What are you looking for, Miss Kokoro?"

"Can you give me my phone? Oh, and I feel parched. I'd like a glass of water, please"

Then the nurse immediately gave what she requested.

The last thing Kokoro remembered before fainting is performing an elaborate counter chant designed to shut down the pentagram meant to summon the archdemon Lilith.

She also placed an ancient celestial shield that could also attack a nearby enemy.

Even that isn't enough, so she had to use her anti-magic rifle and fire at the remaining summoners before fainting.

Her seemingly endless mana supply already ran out by the time she fired her anti-magic rifle.

The tri-layered attack trap she set up in the function hall, added with the dragon she summoned, played a major part in weakening the high officials of the outlaw group.

She thirstily drank the glass of water.

"How long have I been asleep?"

" You passed out for a few hours. It's already morning. It seems you have a visitor today."

Sakura, her best friend, entered the hospital room.

"What happened to you, Kokoro? Did you and your Unit encounter tough opponents yesterday?"

Kokoro is taken aback by the question. It turns out Sakura knew all along.

"How did you find out, Sakura? Only a few in the school know that I'm part of the Secret Unit."

"I've been concealing this from you, but there are spies and informers in Hachiko University. They are either on the side of the government or on the side of the Renegades. The rest are ignorant and innocent bystanders. Don't worry, I'm on your side."

Sakura's words left Kokoro speechless.

Then her tone grew serious.

" No matter what you do, always watch your back. The info you obtained about some of those people that mean trouble at school is correct. "

" What do you mean? They want me out of the picture, that's it?"

"Precisely. I still have classes to attend, and I thought to drop by and see you. I placed something on the table for you. Get well soon."

She opened the eco-bags she carried and placed the Tupperware full of dishes that Kokoro loves to eat on a table.

Then Sakura got up and left the hospital room.

Kokoro motioned for the nurse to put the Tupperware on the fridge in her hospital room.

Takeshi woke up in the hospital room. His injuries aren't as serious as the rest of the Unit.

He looked around the room. He is surprised to recognize one of the girls he had sex with.

" You. Hanako. What are you doing here?"

"Well, what are you also doing here, Takeshi?"

Hanako threw his own words right back at him.

"I heard you're involved in the raid at the Fujiwara mansion. It even made it into the front page of newspapers. The names of agents involved are altered of course."

Then Hanako flicked on the latest edition flat screen smart tv. Sure enough, reporters swarmed the scene, trying to obtain juicy information for their respective news stations.

"How did you know I'm involved? Are you a spy or something?"

"Former campus spy. I worked for the government side. We're in the same school, remember?"

"I see."

"And to answer your question about why I'm here, I work here as a nurse. Hush now, so you can enjoy what you always want from me, baby."

Then Hanako slowly removed her clothes right in front of Takeshi until she became fully naked.

Then she erotically removed Takeshi's clothes and underwear.

And she placed her mouth on Takeshi's manhood and started sucking.

Afterward, she motioned for Takeshi to lie down and crept on top of him.

They had sex.

Hanako's moans could be heard in the other private hospital rooms.

Riku woke up in a hospital room.

The last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness was using his SMG and firing at the surviving summoners point-blank with his anti-magic SMG until his bullets ran out.

He took advantage of the fact that the summoners had a hard time dealing with the arrays set up by Kokoro.

He had nearly used up all his hidden trump cards.

"Water Slice, 90th form " He chanted.

He flitted in and out between the summoner's exposed necks, stabbing and slicing here and there with his katana.

He managed to decapitate a lot of summoners before eventually switching to his anti-magic SMG and spraying fire on the surviving summoners.

Denver Hineki, a middle-aged man in his 50s, sat in his office thinking about the situation of the Hineki family.

He is a vice admiral in the Elorian fleet. He controls a huge number of personnel, ships, carriers, dragons, and planes.

He's one of the most influential officers in the Elorian Navy.

Being a part of a proud and ancient family further reinforced his status. He started out as a marine and worked his way up the ranks.

It's common among the rich and influential people in Eloria to marry their younger generation off to someone as rich and influential as them to further solidify their status, wealth, and influence.

He has someone suitable in mind to pair Rose with:

Kenji Minato, an old friend of his and his subordinate has long since been promoted thanks to his father's wealth and connections.

He is unsure how his niece will react to this. He could only hope for the best.

Kenji Minato is currently off duty.

His father and his superior officer Denver are close friends since their cadet days.

He is taken by surprise when his father approached him earlier and said "Son, I've talked to your superior officer and agreed to his request to pair you up with his niece, Rose."

"Are you serious Oto-San?"

Kenji said, obviously surprised.

"Of course, Kenji. You know that college girl who's a part of the Secret Unit, right? She has worked with us before on joint missions."

"I don't know if I can catch her attention. I heard she has a partner already, but it's worth a try."

"That's the spirit, son."

So, he went ahead and sent a handwritten note to Rose, plus a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers.

It's also been a year since he last had a relationship.

Kenji is a rising talent who graduated at the top of his class at the Elorian Naval Academy.

After his graduation from the Elorian Naval Academy, he started out as a Marine serving under Denver.

His top-notch performance caught the eye of Denver. He was eventually promoted and got reassigned to Denver's elite squad.

John Ross is busy fighting off a beta version of a homunculus.

"This homunculus is a tough opponent. I know that this is an experimental weapon created by the Renegade Leaders, but whose? There isn't much written about the homunculus in the Army Records."

"You don't know who's behind the creation of the homunculus, human?"

The female homunculus dressed like a seductive teenaged gothic loli with a scythe at her back swung her scythe and aimed for his legs.

"I'll tell you if you manage to beat me, human."

"You want to cripple me? No, you won't."

John vanished and reappeared right behind the loli's back.

He chanted a paralyze spell that took the loli by surprise.

Then he managed to disarm the loli.

"This spell will slowly creep up on your body. You can only talk and feel others touching your body, but you can't move."

"Now talk, or I'll continue inserting my finger between your legs. "

He already removed her underwear and undressed her, stroked the loli's breast while whispering in her ear, and inserted his finger in between the girl's thighs.

The loli's eyes rolled back. She couldn't suppress her moans. She is already starting to get wet down there.

" Human. Ohh. Ahh. Ohh. Please. Stop it. I'll talk. "

She managed to speak out.

John Ross used to assist in the family business until the grisly crime happened and changed his world forever.

He joined the Elorian Army and worked hard.

His exceptional performance helped in making him eventually rise up the ranks.

He eventually got reassigned to the Mage Ranger Division of the army, the most elite force in the entire Elorian land forces.