The Final Hour

"We're set to begin the operation at nightfall, I will ask again, have all the preparations been made? We aren't missing anything?" Yue asks with everyone is gathered in the underground meeting room.

"All three locations for the explosions have been filled to the brim with explosives with just a thin layer of dirt covering them from sight. All that's left is for your people to make it go boom at the appointed time," I say.

"Both the infiltration teams are ready with fresh supplies and are ready for deployment," Shuren says."

"We're ready over here as well. The assault team for the Cheng side can set out on the order," Yin says.

"On the Hong side, we are just awaiting you, Yue. Other than that, everything and everyone should be ready to move," Lia.

"There is something I need to make absolutely sure of before we continue," Aurelia says turning to me, "you didn't sneak a nuke into any of the bomb locations did you?"

"As much as I really wanted to, no, I didn't. I'm not entirely sure how to build them nor do I have the ability to reproduce something like uranium or plutonium. And even if I could produce them, I wouldn't know what to do with them and it didn't look like you would tell me."

"I only know a few things about the process but nothing complete, but even so, I wouldn't share that information with anyone, let alone someone like you who would be happy to use such dangerous weapons like toys," Aurelia says.

"What are you two talking about, what's a nuke?" Yue asks.

"It's short for nuclear weapon or nuclear bomb, and it's a weapon of mass destruction. A powerful type of bomb that uses certain materials and renders the nearby environment inhospitable for years to come. The leftover radiation is also incredibly dangerous, especially without the proper means to contain it. This fool wanted to use one solely for the sake of using it, it's why she basically didn't do anything for two weeks, she spent that time thinking about how to make one," Aurelia explains.

"But the explosion would have been so big. It definitely would have been the best distraction," I say.

"I even looked and I still can't figure out what the hell is going on in your head for you to think that would have been an ok thing to do. You really do have some screws loose," Aurelia says.

"I'm not that bad, am I?"

"..."

And no one says anything, even Lia. With the Soul Connection I know she wanted to but after considering my previous actions and what I had planned on doing, she came to the conclusion that it would be futile to put up an argument. But she did cast those thoughts away pretty quickly and started thinking about... patting my head? In this situation? Even Aurelia is giving Lia a weird look for that sudden shift in thoughts.

Lia seemed to have realised what we were doing and says, "Since you both know what I was thinking, I might as well do it," as she then walks over and gives me head pats despite the awkward reaching up from the height difference.

"You two really are a match made in heaven, you both have some screws loose," Aurelia says.

"We've known for a while those two are... eccentric to keep it simple, but in the end, Cordelia never actually went through with it and while I don't think she should have been thinking of using such weapon that sounds so destructive, we have more important things to deal with right now," Yue says.

"Back to the original topic, we've determined that the open roof of the Dragon Tower is the best location for Cordelia to be as it gives a view of all the target locations. I've heard you have a poor sense of direction, so I'll arrange for someone to guide you up there after this meeting," Shuren says.

"You've improved how long you able to remain invisible for, right? How long is it now?" Yue asks.

"If it's just me in my humanoid form, I can keep it up for eight hours if I'm not doing anything else but depending on what else I'm doing it can vary between four and six hours," I say.

"Hmm... then if there is a panic on the roof from either the diversion explosions or from our activities at the Hong and Cheng manors, hide in the crowd and conceal yourself before returning to watch over and control those giant contraptions of yours," Yue says.

"But what if there isn't anyone or there are only a few people?"

"I doubt that will be the case since the tower is a pretty popular place to visit during the night, especially for tourists. But if that is the case, then just deal with any guards if there are any and keep to the original objective."

"I think we've covered everything that needs to be covered. Supplies have been double-checked, all teams are ready to move, and our comrades are already en route to the diversion locations," Shuren says.

"Good, then lets get moving. Once the sun completely sets and the lights of the city come on that's when the first signal flare will be sent. Our people on the outside will then light the fuse for the bombs with a one minute interval between them before retreating a safe distance away. Once the final explosion occurs we wait three minutes before making our move, this is to ensure that most of the military forces that plan on checking the situation have left. As a reminder for the assault teams, we don't have to win our fights, if we can't then that's it, all we have to do is stall until we get the signal to retreat from the infiltration teams. Now let's get moving!"

With Yue's last words, we all begin moving to our positions. Aurelia goes with Yin and her team, along with the other mercenary groups that decide to support us and some combat operatives of the Scarlet Wings. Lia and Wanjing accompany Yue and her subordinates to their starting point. Wei and Shuren both lead their respective infiltration units. And I follow my guide to up to the Dragon Tower, one of the tourist attractions in Long.

As we arrive at the rooftop, the Scarlet Wings member who brought me here returns to his team while I take the chance to buy some snacks from the vendors up here. While walking around, I feel like an idiot for thinking this place would be empty as the roof is covered in people. Tables and benches are scattered around with various stalls to buy food or some random trinkets. Yue wasn't kidding when she said there would be a crowd.

After getting a good look around, I make my way over to the section that grants a view of the central district and in turn, our target locations. As I'm taking in the nice view of the city, the sun finally sets and I see a cloaked figure in the streets fire off a bright signal flare before running off. The time has finally come, Operation Cardinal Fall has officially begun.