Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 415: Visiting some old friends

It was a young woman approximately Arthur’s age—power evident in her graceful movements and intelligent eyes.

"Everyone, hold hands," Gates commanded his security team.

The bodyguards exchanged confused glances but obeyed without hesitation. Loyalty transcended logical understanding when survival was involved.

Aether’s spatial manipulation activated on an expanded scale, reality folding around the assembled group like silk curtains being drawn.

Group teleportation. Always impressive. Gates thought.

-----

Gates Corporation Headquarters

The familiar conference room materialised around them, corporate architecture replacing estate grandeur. Tiana immediately realised the headquarters from the design.

"Welcome to the new world order," Gates said quietly.

Arthur’s forces were positioned, and his objectives were advancing.

Seeing Gates back alongside his daughter and bodyguards, Arthur announced.

"I’ve sent each captain a summons to look after them from afar, and I will also send one with you. This one will follow you, just in case he appears at a critical time, you should know he isn’t an enemy."

Gates nodded, understanding the implications before he could ask about specifics. Arthur’s protective measures had proven their worth time and time again.

"Come out," Arthur commanded with a casual tone.

Suddenly, a demon appeared next to Arthur out of nowhere, his presence filling the space like a living mountain. Superior-rank aura pressed against everyone’s consciousness, announcing power that could reshape battlefields.

Level 21. Superior-rank.

The demon’s massive form, nine feet tall, immediately assumed a respectful position behind Arthur. Four arms crossed in formal acknowledgement while burning eyes surveyed the assembled humans with protective assessment.

Guardian deployed. Maximum security.

As one of his most trusted allies, Arthur wanted absolute certainty that Gates wouldn’t encounter unexpected dangers. A superior-rank demon at Level 21 could eliminate anything currently operating on Earth.

They can’t send anyone this powerful. Otherwise, they would have already.

Gates’s enhanced perception catalogued the demon’s capabilities with appreciation. This wasn’t just protection, it was overwhelming superiority.

"Thank you," Gates said formally, beginning to bow with genuine gratitude.

Arthur raised his hand, stopping the bow mid-motion. "Don’t. We are more than just allies now."

"Sir," Gates straightened, "this level of protection... that’s the level you gave to countries...thank you."

"I would’ve given you better, but that’s what I can give for now," Arthur replied simply.

Whilst Arthur could have given Gates bloom, he decided not to. Bloom wasn’t good at stealth, and his power was mainly in mind control; a true-rank demon was better suited for the operation. Besides, Arthur also needed Bloom for his upcoming plans.

Behind Gates, Tiana watched the exchange with growing understanding.

That demon could level cities.

Despite being Arthur’s age, she found herself viewing him with something approaching reverence. He commanded creatures that belonged in legends, treated the impossible as routine, and protected allies with resources that continents couldn’t afford, let alone countries.

He is like a star, you can only admire from afar.

Following her father’s example, Tiana began her own respectful bow. "Thank you for protecting our family."

Arthur’s expression softened slightly. "Your father earned this protection."

Credit where credit is due.

The demon guardian spoke for the first time, its voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Master, shall I maintain visible presence or operate from shadows?"

"Stay hidden," Arthur decided. "Most people will mistake you as a threat; it’s better to stay out of sight until necessary."

Gates nodded in appreciation.

Tiana asked a question that had been weighing on her mind. "Will he also help us against normal demons, or..."

"He will be your protector in case things go wrong. Your father is plenty strong to deal with the current threats on Earth," Arthur replied with confidence.

Gates has reached a high level alongside his talent, he’s more than adequate for existing demon types.

Tiana nodded in understanding.

Arthur then turned toward Gates, his voice dropping to private consultation levels as he provided specific operational instructions. The conversation lasted several minutes, covering contingencies and protocols that would ensure optimal resource deployment.

After Gates and his entourage departed, Arthur found himself alone in the conference room.

Earth is now under control.

He had positioned all necessary assets across the planet. Earth wasn’t under immediate aggressive threat, though Arthur knew that status could change rapidly based on demonic unpredictability. Still, his summons was scattered globally, and they would notify him of any escalations.

With Aether by his side, he would be able to arrive in seconds, before anything significant enough to change his plans happens.

Although he had set his plans in motion, there were a few more things that required attention before heading to Armageddon for the herb-hunting expedition.

Loose ends. Always tie up loose ends.

"Aether, return to your largest size."

The void dragon’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Yes, Master!"

Aether’s compact form expanded dramatically, spatial manipulation allowing impossible size transitions within confined spaces. His magnificent fifteen-meter wingspan filled the huge conference room like a living shadow.

Arthur provided specific coordinates—numbers burned into his memory. The location that had defined his lowest point, where human cruelty had shaped his understanding of necessary violence.

Time to visit some old friends.

They vanished together, reality folding around dragon and rider as dimensional travel carried them toward reckoning.

...

Arthur appeared in the place of his deepest misery. The reinforced concrete corridors stretched before him like monuments to mind torture, each grey wall holding memories of Donald’s "negotiations."

The installation stood empty now, its sterile hallways echoing with phantom screams.

Of course, they evacuated, they expected my arrival after all...cowards.

Arthur had removed his mask before teleportation, allowing his true face to be recorded by whatever surveillance systems remained active.

He wanted to let them see who had come calling.

He walked slowly through corridors that had once confined him, his perception cataloguing details that he had missed before.

Cameras were placed in every corridor and every turn. In this place, privacy was a myth that needed to be discovered.

The gymnasium where he encountered Ryker, his dirty cousin. The food hall that James invited him to eat in.

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