Chapter 226: Planning A Spirit Gate Raid

All that was said and done, and it seemed like the plans were in order. But I couldn’t help the question forming at the back of my mind, one I really didn’t want to ask. I turned it over ten times, trying to let it go.

Milo seemed to notice. "Wanna say something, kid?"

I lingered for a moment, then gave in.

"It’s just... that was super fast? Have you guys been preparing for a day like this one?"

Milo laughed, short and sharp, then looked quite smug.

"I told you, right? I’m the Operative Director around here. What do you think that means?"

"Milo’s got brains." Cressida tapped the side of her head for emphasis.

Ophelia and Odelia both nodded to corroborate what she said.

I glanced at Nisha and Levi. They were indifferent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Just watching.

’Hmm, I guess he just thought all these up in the moment.’

I breathed out slowly and nodded.

"Okay then... So when do we start?"

Milo’s smile sharpened. "Your summon is currently with the elf lady, isn’t she? Let’s spook Manhattan first and make them feel like the man is trying to flee with their goods. This will cause them to want to collect her. At the same time, you’ll be going around buying elves at an obscene amount of money."

"There’s a problem though..." Levi’s voice cut through the room after a pause.

I turned to him, as did Milo.

"He can’t exactly pretend to buy. He has to buy them for real." Levi spread his hands. "But we’re broke."

Milo looked down, his expression souring.

"You’re right."

Levi grinned, something eager flickering behind his eyes. "Which means we need to get our money up."

Milo slowly raised his head. "The only fastest way to do that will be a gate raid. But Manhattan and the other companies have all the gate raids right now. They won’t let us in."

Levi shrugged. "Since when has that ever stopped us?"

Milo looked at him, a cold grin struggling onto his face.

’This guy, isn’t he too excited?’

"Right?" Milo retorted. "When has that ever stopped us."

He lunged to his feet. "Well, if we’re talking about a gate raid, then there’s this one I’ve got my mind set on."

Levi smiled. So did Nisha, though hers was quieter, more contained.

Cressida shot up from her seat. "Hooray! We’re back in action. I’m so happy Poland is missing this, no one to steal my kill!"

’Poland? As in Po?’

It was unexpected and amusing to get Po’s full name. I filed that away for later.

"Looks like we’re going on a raid..." Ophelia said coolly. Odelia nodded beside her. "Hmm, hmm, we are."

The atmosphere rose, and everyone looked quite happy. I didn’t particularly share the sentiment. My last gate raid had been interesting, but there had also been a lot of things that went wrong.

If I hadn’t gone with Kassie, I didn’t see how I would have made it back alive.

I paused.

’Wait... Kassie.’

I turned to all of them sharply, and the muttering died as they gave me their attention.

"If we’re going for a gate raid... my summon..."

"She can’t be removed from his side yet." It was Nisha who spoke. For a moment I almost hated her, because I knew exactly what she was saying.

"Are you asking a summoner to go into a gate without his summon?"

Nisha shrugged. "You have two, don’t you? Besides, haven’t you been training for this sort of thing?"

She was right. But still, the thought of going to a spirit gate without Kassie felt... too much to handle. On the other hand, it was a good test for myself, and I still had Maggie nonetheless.

Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to see how much of a monster she also was.

’If I tell Kassie I’m going into a spirit gate without her, she’ll get pissed. And might not let me...’

For some reason I could tell that was exactly what her reaction would be. She might even be prepared to withdraw from the man, because Kassie was beginning to care about me.

Milo gave me a small smile.

"Don’t worry, it won’t be a big deal. There aren’t a lot of high-tier gates around here, so we’ll be in and out before anyone knows."

He turned to Ophelia. "Make preparations. Most of our workers are with Derry. The remaining miners and logistics, rally them and hire more if needed. Be discrete about it."

"Discretion would mean a small number," Ophelia replied flatly.

"It should work nonetheless."

Ophelia nodded after that.

Milo glanced at everyone. "Guys, polish your spirit gears. Fix what needs to be fixed. After six months, we’re finally going into a gate again."

"Yayy!" Cressida shouted. The others had an indifferent attitude to it, especially Tristan.

After that we all dispersed, doing different things. Cressida was already walking with Odelia, dragging at her clothes and begging her for something.

Nisha had gone to her quarters. So had Levi. Milo was at the reception bar doing some paperwork, while Tristan stepped outside.

I also stepped outside but couldn’t find him, despite the fact that he’d just gone through the door.

"Looking for someone?"

I followed the voice up, and there he was, perched on one of the lower-layer roofs of the cathedral. He smiled at me, but I could see the somberness beneath it.

"Do you need something?"

I thought about the distance for a moment. Looked at the weight bracelets on my wrists. Breathed in, breathed out, consciously circulating my essence and wrapping it around my body to feel more aware of my weight.

I lowered my knee and lunged into the sky, flying over seven feet in one leap. I landed on the roof, but my foot slipped on the last step and I nearly fell back. Tristan caught my hand and helped stabilize me.

I panted for a moment but calmed, taking a seat beside him.

Both of us sat on top of the roof, watching over the vast city of Los Arcos as darkness descended upon the land. The buildings below stretched in uneven rows, their lights just beginning to flicker on against the dimming sky.

I inhaled heavily. Something in my chest loosened, relief or exhaustion, I couldn’t tell which.

"Quite a beautiful view, isn’t it?"