Boreas POV
"Here, that woman left a note of instructions on how to get to them." Kai then handed me a note, "It isn't too far from here, but I'd say that you should bring more people along, Jett and Mari are not going to be enough, especially since Mari has just angered the sister of an executive...as for Jett, they would know a lot of weaknesses that they can exploit."
"Have you heard any news about a phoenix yet? Just a sighting or anything, really."
"None, but since Jett doesn't really feel anything weird, we can safely say that it isn't dire, but you should get that evaluated further at the meet-up. If it's dire, we can search for a phoenix, like...we got a dragon, how hard can finding a phoenix be?"
Reading the note, it instructed me to go to a nearby mountain. The trek there wasn't hard, I then followed the instructions to go find a nearby ruin. The ruin eventually came into view, half-buried in the side of the mountain, its stone walls cracked and weathered by time. Stepping inside, I felt a surge of mana still lingering in the air, I moved carefully, scanning the room for a symbol that the note had mentioned.
It didn't take long to find. After a few minutes of searching, I saw a faded carving on the far wall, barely visible through the layers of dust and decay. I then placed my hand on it and channeled a small amount of mana into the symbol. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a low rumble, the stone shifted, revealing a hidden staircase leading down into the depths of the mountain.
As we walked down the stairs, I was eventually greeted by the so-called velvet falcon or whatever his name was, and beside him was Sasha Lightfoot, a supposed great informant in the red light district.
"Welcome, long time no see." he greeted us.
"So, you're siblings...fun."
"I've never approved of her job." George, his actual name, said as he glanced at her sister, "I told her to just join me and my division or create her own, but...in a way, she did create such a reputation as an informant that our boss offered her a position anyway, it was slower...and dirtier."
"Dirtier?"
"She slept with way too many people." he shrugged, "Anyway, how are you doing?"
"I'm guessing you didn't bring me here to ask how I'm doing. So let's just get to the point."
"You've always been the skeptical type, haven't you?"
"Comes with the territory. You'd be skeptical too if you had half the problems I do."
"You do know that we know that you're one of the heroes, right?"
"Well, I'm sure of it now."
"What's your real name? What-"
"Can we just get to the point?"
"What point? It's not every day that I can meet a hero, it's even better once you realize and learn that they're just some reincarnated souls, you aren't really a kid, but just some guy in a kid's body."
"Sure...so why ask me to come all of a sudden? You said that you wanted to see me in 2 years, it's been only one."
"Plans change, the demon lord's recent attack is proof."
"Why did you go to the other world a while back?"
"Oh, it's to lure the heroes, and it was a complete success."
"Why did you take Matt's blood?"
"If you want the full picture, you're going to have to join us."
"...I got conditions."
"Conditions?" Sasha questioned, "Hero or not, I don't get why we're giving him anything.
"I want to know what you guys did to Jett, why you did what you did to Matt, and finally, what's your end goal."
"Simple enough." George shrugged.
"Do you not go by other names? Like I would love to call you by your name, but I also know someone else with the name George, and it's confusing."
"Anyway, follow us, I'll lead you to our secret base...and better have that girl over there apologize to my sister once, she was quite angry for having her arm chopped off."
He then pressed some sort of button on the wall, and there was another secret entrance that opened up.
3rd Person POV
As Boreas followed George through the underground passage, the narrow stone walls gradually gave way to something far more impressive. The air became cooler, and the faint sound of distant machinery hummed through the tunnel. When they finally emerged into the base, Boreas could hardly believe his eyes.
Before he stretched a vast, sprawling facility...nothing like the crude hideouts or makeshift camps he had expected. This was an advanced, military-grade operation. The ceiling arched high above, reinforced with metal beams and glowing with artificial lights that bathed the entire area in a sharp, white glow. Rows upon rows of soldiers moved in perfect synchronization, each squad going through drills with terrifying precision.
The sheer size of the place was overwhelming. Thousands of troops filled the expanse, training grounds stretching as far as he could see. Some practiced combat maneuvers, while others honed their magical abilities. Weapons gleamed under the lights, and everywhere he looked, there was efficiency, order, and readiness. This was a fully operational military force.
"Impressive, isn't it?" George said, glancing over his shoulder as he led Boreas through the base, "Most people think the Blood Ravens are just a bunch of mercenaries. They have no idea what we're really capable of."
Boreas barely nodded, too distracted by the sight below. Factories lined one side of the base, massive structures churning out equipment, armor, and weapons at a breakneck pace. Smoke billowed from tall chimneys, and the rhythmic pounding of metal rang out as machines forged supplies for the army. He could see workers operating at a frantic pace, each part of the facility designed to be as efficient as possible.
The scale of the operation was staggering. Alongside the soldiers, engineers tinkered with advanced technology, weapons far more sophisticated than anything Boreas had seen in the empire's own armories. Vehicles, enchanted golems, and siege engines stood lined up, ready for deployment.
Walking through the base, Boreas couldn't help but marvel at the level of organization. They passed through different sections: barracks housing soldiers, storage areas packed with provisions, and even research labs where mages and scientists collaborated on what appeared to be weaponized magic. Enchanted crystals floated in containment fields, brimming with raw energy.
He stopped for a moment, looking around as soldiers jogged past, nodding to George in respect. Boreas had never seen anything like it. This wasn't just a hidden stronghold. It was a self-sufficient war machine, ready to take on anyone who stood in its way.
George led him deeper into the heart of the base, past doors that required keycards and magical seals to access. As they walked, Boreas took in every detail, noting the complexity of the operations around him. Every person in this facility seemed to have a purpose, a task. There was no wasted effort here.
Finally, they came to a massive window overlooking what appeared to be the command center. Below, commanders and tacticians pored over maps and charts, their eyes focused and intense. Holographic displays floated in the air, showing battle simulations and strategies. Every move was being planned with exact precision.
"Everything you see here," George said, gesturing to the room below, "is just the beginning. We're not just fighting a war. We're preparing for something much bigger."
"This...what the fuck..." Boreas muttered under his breath.
