Guren returned.
"Looks like you're in a bad mood?"
Hiiragi Kureto could clearly sense the gloomy aura surrounding Guren, like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.
Guren scratched his messy, bird's-nest-like hair and said with a grim face.
"Why the hurry to call me back?"
After returning to his family home in Nagoya, Guren knew something was wrong the moment he saw the messy state of the side room.
Going down to the basement, he discovered that part of the experimental data was missing. Entering the space sealing the Seraph through the Cursed Formation, he found only the corpse of a boy, the sin key within his body already gone.
Hiiragi Kureto didn't ask further and handed a note to Guren.
"This is new intel. The locations of the Vampire nobles in Nagoya. Take a look."
Guren took the note and asked casually.
"Is that Vampire on it?"
Hiiragi Kureto naturally knew which one Guren was asking about.
"Unclear. There's no information on that Vampire. The captured Vampires would rather be tortured by sunlight or even Cursed Gear than reveal anything. They seem terrified of the consequences of speaking."
Guren began to carefully examine the contents of the note. After a while, he frowned and said.
"This 'ZERO'?"
Hiiragi Kureto nodded.
"Very strange. It's the first time we've heard of it. It doesn't seem like a name, more like a codename. Ranked ninth, yet marked as having poor combat ability. Its authenticity needs verification."
Guren suddenly took out his phone and called Shinoa Hiragi. Hiiragi Kureto did not stop him.
"Lieutenant... Lieutenant Colonel?"
"You sound nervous?"
"No, I'm just a bit surprised you called me. Is something the matter?"
Guren didn't beat around the bush.
"That white-haired Vampire noble we encountered at Omotesando before, do you and Yuu know him?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, both Yuu and I saw him when we were children. He was human back then. I remember we reported this."
Guren said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, too lazy to pull the files. Just tell me everything you know."
Over ten minutes later, Guren hung up the phone.
"I guess this 'ZERO' is that Vampire named Luke. He hasn't been a Vampire for long, so it's normal we have no information on him."
Hiiragi Kureto crossed his arms, thinking with a slight frown, looking at Guren.
"You mean this intel is problematic?"
Guren was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"At the very least, we can't trust it completely. The intel on these three Vampires at the City Hall is also off. I remember they weren't seriously injured in the Shinjuku battle."
He knew the source of this intel was Ferid, but there were indeed several suspicious points.
"I suspect this intel has been swapped. For now, observe the City Hall and the Central Building. Sending too many squads over would just be a waste of lives. The other locations roughly match the noble movements we already have on record. These two places are too obviously bait."
Hiiragi Kureto nodded.
"You handle the arrangements. I'll take that thing to Shinjuku. When the time comes, lure the troublesome nobles over. We must seize this opportunity to drive the Vampires out of Japan. But since the intel was swapped, the Vampires must already know we're about to attack Nagoya. Be careful."
...Sanguinem.
After hearing Luke's description of the fake intel's contents, Krul frowned and said.
"Won't the Imperial Demon Army notice something's off? Your two locations are far too abnormal."
Luke stretched and laughed.
"I'm counting on them noticing it. Who says the boss has to guard the base? I'll use guerrilla tactics! The Imperial Demon Army's focus will be on the nobles surrounding the area, then they'll surround the City Hall and Central Building at the center."
Krul realized Luke was misleading them into thinking the central area would be very dangerous.
But she still felt some parts were illogical.
"If they figure out the intel is fake, would they even believe the other locations?"
Luke shrugged.
"They probably have some information of their own to verify the other locations. I just need them to leave the central area empty."
Krul sensed Luke had another plan.
"What are you going to do in the central area?"
Luke took out the sin key of the Sixth Seraph and toyed with it in his hand.
"This war will likely have those monsters again. I'm going to be the biggest boss!"
"You're going to use the power of this thing?"
Luke took out another piece of paper with a Cursed Formation pattern drawn on it. Krul smelled human blood—this formation was drawn with human blood.
"You know, human research on Seraphs is indeed far ahead. I found this in the Ichinose Family basement. Combined with a sin key, it can borrow the Seraph's authority, not just its power."
Luke gave a live demonstration.
He inserted the sin key into the paper. A mass of substance suddenly emerged, writhing and transforming into a Four Horsemen of John.
But limited by the size of the formation and the finite cursed power in the blood, this Four Horsemen of John was only about a meter tall.
The Four Horsemen of John looked around, found no humans, and stood there daze.
"Intelligence needs improvement."
Luke patted the Four Horsemen of John's head. Sensing the Seraph's aura, it did not attack Luke.
"When the time comes, the battlefield won't be short of blood. Drawing a formation in such a large central area... I can't even imagine how strong a monster I could summon!"
Luke was getting somewhat excited.
Krul thought Luke's plan was good. They wouldn't even need to sacrifice Lower-ranking Vampires as cannon fodder; the Four Horsemen of John were natural monsters for dealing with humans.
"So, do you know when the Imperial Demon Army will attack?"
"Of course... I don't. We can just go early and wait, right?"
"I need to arrange some matters in Sanguinem before I can bring Sanguinem's nobles over."
Krul's words clearly meant she couldn't accompany Luke over immediately.
Luke was taken aback, rubbed his chin for a moment, and spoke.
"It's fine. I'll leave with you. I'll just send the Demon Sword over to prepare."
Kyle was not pleased.
"Luke, you bastard! If you exploit me again, I quit! I'll tear up that damn contract!"
These days, there's no human rights, let alone sword spirit rights!
Luke spoke directly to Kyle in his mind.
"It's a transaction. Think about it. If you go early, won't you get to suck blood as soon as the humans arrive? No need to thank me. Consider it a benefit from our Sanguinem."
"Piss off! When I suck blood, it's just to boost some bastard! I get no benefit!"
"You're just not seeing the bigger picture. Do we even distinguish between you and me in our relationship? Don't be so distant!"
"Hah, don't think you can make me work for free again!"
Luke secretly thought Kyle was a snob!
"Alright, how about this: you go ahead. During the battle, I'll let you make an appearance in front of all the Vampires. Think about it, showing off in front of the entire Vampire race, wouldn't that feel great?"
Over the years, Luke had realized that after becoming a sword spirit, Kyle's strongest desire was to show off.
Every time Luke used the Demon Sword, Kyle always made the most dazzling entrance, using his Demonic Aura like free special effects.
Kyle was silent for a moment, then replied.
"For Lady Krul's sake. But this is the last time!"
You will get 30 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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