The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City-Chapter 150: Violet Got Caught in a Conspiracy! (3)

The members of the Mystic Investigation Division, who had returned with their spoils, faced an unexpected situation.

"The elevator has been destroyed..."

Hearing the report from the contact at the forward base of the safety zone, Lera felt a slight headache. The plan had encountered a setback.

She raised the threat level of the Union Meeting in her mind. She had underestimated the hordes of beggars, but their madness had to be acknowledged.

She never expected such a large-scale incident. Now, the plan to secure the Vision Prism and head straight to the gate had fallen apart.

The bigger problem was something else.

"We are currently conducting security checks at the forward base entrance. The various small and medium clans inside are also carefully inspecting all people and vehicles approaching."

A more thorough checkpoint search was being carried out on all vehicles and people heading to the forward base in the safety zone than usual.

That wasn’t all. As news of the elevator collapse spread through people and wired communications, the workers began to sense the danger and were returning to base.

To exaggerate, the area around the forward base wall and entrance was as crowded as a highway during peak vacation season. There were too many eyes on them.

"Our plan hasn’t been exposed, has it?"

"Fortunately, no. It seems the fanatical members of the Union Meeting were preparing their ritual with the Vision Prism here. All eyes are on them."

That was a relief. Their plan and their cover identities had not been exposed yet. For now, they were using the name of the Paper Clan to be here.

The Magna Nabis members held an emergency meeting to discuss their next move.

"As everyone knows, Plan 1 is not feasible in the current situation."

As Lera spoke, everyone looked at her with agreement in their eyes.

The plan to disguise themselves as cargo and cross through the gate was no longer possible. The artifact was too large to conceal with magic, and there was a high chance that the usual cover-up methods would be exposed.

"The problem is what plan we proceed with. How about Plan 4? I know it’s a contingency plan, but isn’t it time to reconsider?"

When the voice of the Vanguard commander, mixed with mechanical sounds, rang out, some of the members flinched and looked at him. It wasn’t just because of the mechanical noise—it was because of the radical nature of the plan.

"Excuse me, but even the Vanguard... um, sorry, I didn’t mean to..."

One male member raised an objection, only to shrink back under the commanding officer’s intense gaze. The officer snickered and continued speaking.

"Do you really think it’s impossible? Don’t worry about it."

The Vanguard commander pointed behind him with his thumb. The Mystic Investigation Division members, the fixers, and the Vanguard agents were all moving busily.

"With our current strength, it’s more than possible. Do you know how many times I’ve done something like this before? The calculations are already done. Most of the personnel at the forward base are non-awakened laborers or low-level hunters. It won’t take long."

Objections poured in about the radical plan.

"But, the enemy isn’t just them, right? The main Federal Army forces are approaching from the rear! How are we supposed to deal with their tank units? If we’re not careful, we’ll be caught between the forward base and the mechanized forces. Also, what if our identities are exposed during the fighting? Let’s go with Plan 2. If we wait, the elevator will be repaired in a day or two. Let’s wait for the main forces."

Someone voiced their opinion. A member on the opposite side waved their hand dismissively.

"Those fanatical bastards are after the Prism, too. What will we do if we hide it and they take it away? Don’t forget. Because of the ongoing project at the Academy, we need to get this within the right timeframe. Let’s go with Plan 3. We’ve got jetpacks and bikes on standby for just such a situation. And we all know how to use flight magic."

"So, you want to hide? It’s obvious it’ll be discovered sooner or later. We need to take them out one by one right now!"

The emergency meeting grew more heated as voices began to rise. Lera, who had been silently thinking, finally spoke up quietly.

"Everyone, there’s a better way. We should hand over the Prism to the Federal Army."

At this unexpected suggestion, everyone looked at her. Lera calmly continued her explanation.

"If the Vision Prism falls into the hands of ordinary people, they’ll definitely try to destroy or dismantle it. But if it’s the Federal Army, they won’t just let the artifact get destroyed. According to the intelligence, their goal is to secure the artifact, not destroy it."

"Are you suggesting we just give it away? That precious thing? Of course, it’s not urgently needed for the project, but it’s an order from the Mage. You know that, right?"

"Of course, I’m not suggesting we just hand it over. We’ll use the power of the Vision Prism."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"We’ll activate the artifact and then hand it over."

She reminded the Mystic Investigation Division members of their capabilities. If they mobilized the researchers to inject a small amount of magic into the Vision Prism, and added appropriate spells and magical engineering components, they could neutralize all lifeforms within a radius of several hundred meters. Everyone was impressed by the explanation.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

The Vanguard commander, who had been listening, clapped his hands briefly in interest.

"So you want to use it like a remote-controlled bomb?"

"Exactly. If our assumptions are correct, the Federal Army will never hand over the artifact. Whether the elevator is repaired, or the artifact is being transported outside the gate, we can activate it at the moment that suits us."

The Federal Army, for their part, couldn’t afford to be completely legitimate either. They wouldn’t cooperate in destroying the artifact.

And when the opportunity arises, they could use the artifact’s power to neutralize the enemy and retrieve it again.

After hearing Lera’s suggestion, everyone agreed that it was a solid plan. Once the meeting ended, the members hurriedly began preparations to withdraw. Other members started modifying the Vision Prism.

In front of the Prism, a female member, having heard the order from her superior, was frowning and refusing to begin the work.

"You want me to activate the Vision Prism? That’s too dangerous. I haven’t even figured out all the mechanisms yet. Artifacts don’t work just by thinking about them. Magic power is—"

Bored with the lengthy explanation typical of someone from a technical background, one of the male members slapped her on the back of the head.

"Shut up and start working! We’re just going to knock them out anyway, what’s the problem?"

The shock caused her brown ponytail to sway. She groaned, clutching the back of her head.

"T-to a person... If we’re not careful, this might not just knock them out..."

"Stop pretending to be nice, you knew exactly what you were getting into when you joined. Get moving!"

The pressure from the superior made the team hesitate, but they started the operation.

Inside the moving command armored vehicle, Major Marius was furious, berating his subordinates over the radio.

“Find it now! If you can’t find it, it’s the day we both take off our military uniforms. Understand?”

After giving the order, Major Marius slumped into his chair.

"Damn it! I had such a rare opportunity..."

Around him, the so-called "illegal cult organization purge" was being broadcast, but the real mission of the Federation Army’s 60th Mobile Combat Battalion was something else entirely. It was to secure the Vision Prism.

"If it gets scratched even a little, it’s a big problem..."

He thought about the instructions from his superiors. If this mission was completed successfully, he could move up to a higher position.

Then, his superior had casually mentioned a few words. It was a secret weapon project.

The security documents given to him were covered in black lines, making it impossible to discern the specifics of the plan. However, understanding the objective was enough.

The Vision Prism would become a powerful weapon. A trump card that could deal a blow to the Four Great Clans and the beasts. It was a strategic weapon that couldn’t be compared to nuclear or electromagnetic weapons.

"I don’t know what the higher-ups are planning to make, but it must be an amazing weapon. Those damn clan bastards will tremble when they see it."

As he thought about his past life as a lowly hunter, looked down upon, he briefly grimaced.

"Anyway, my stupid subordinates better do their job properly..."

He thought. The non-awakened soldiers were too slow. Even though they were equipped with expensive gear like railguns and exoskeletons, they still got killed at the slightest mistake.

Team Leader! We found the artifact!

When the report came in, the Major smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Good. Secure it and move to the safe zone immediately!"

After eating and taking a walk around, Violet No. 451 saw some people arguing at the entrance of the forward base.

“What’s going on there?”

Since the Atlas Clan had increased the security checks, the entrance had long been decorated with the angry voices of people. Using X-ray machines, metal detectors, mirrors, all sorts of magical equipment, and rituals made the process take a long time. It was no surprise that people were irritated.

However, this time, the situation was a little different.

“That’s a tank!”

To his surprise, the entrance was lined with Federation vehicles. In the front, there were even tanks.

“You know the regulations. This is the Vision Prism! Hand it over immediately. It must be destroyed!”

The Clan members were in a standoff with the soldiers. In the front, there was Major Marius, the old man they saw yesterday.

The Major raised his pistol and shouted loudly.

“This is Federation property! Don’t you know that the ownership of dungeon artifacts goes to the first person to find them? You all are suspicious. Are you even hunters?”

“That applies to regular artifacts, not this one. This is a dangerous item! We just need to dismantle it here. What’s the problem?”

“So, once the elevator is fixed, you plan to go up and dismantle it in the military base, right? Safely!”

“If we go outside the gate, the city is just around the corner! What if it explodes during transport?”

“You can call for a transport helicopter, you idiots. Get out of the way right now!”

While the soldiers were arguing, the Violets felt an odd vibration.

“What is that?”

From beyond the passage, strange creatures were gathering. Violet No. 642, who had been waiting outside the forward base, screamed in surprise.

“It’s a beast! Aaaah!”

After the report, Violet No. 642 was swallowed by a black, slimy mass and died instantly.

It was a higher-level beast, Noxterror. Seeing the beasts flood in like a tidal wave, the Federation soldiers and the Clan members hastily stopped fighting.

Then, in the next moment, I couldn’t help but be horrified. A strange person in a pointed hat was riding on top of the Noxterror.

“A beast rider?”

I shouted in surprise.

“Irene! Daphne! Look over there. It’s a beast rider!”

Looking closely, there were people riding on the beasts.

The slime rider, wearing a pointed hat, swung a flaming sword and shouted in a booming voice that echoed through the dungeon.

“Heretics! Unbelievers! Fear! The time of ascension has come!”