"System, there's no way any of them can trace any of those photos back to my party, correct?"
Correct Sora. You and your party all wear masks and cloaks that are magically embedded with sealing protection at SSS rank. I created them when I used your body, so each one you create will follow the same standard. Not even the King could trace any of you while wearing the masks and/or cloak.
"Phew," Sora thought.
"Relax Azazel. You and Malphas always get worked up over the littlest details. From what I've found in my research, they're just a group of class A and S adventurers who clear dungeons every night. What's so threatening about that?" Dorian said with a smirk.
"He's right. From what my team uncovered, they're just eager to rank up. They wish to remain anonymous to avoid people trying to party with them. They just find dungeons and clear them. I thought your demon princes, sins and special forces weren't interested in any of the adventurer and quest ranking system?" Jackson added.
"He probably wants information because they're up to no good," Fenrir scoffed. "Azazel doesn't waste our time, so if he's this angry, it's important. Well, go ahead Azazel. What demon artifact have you lost this time?"
"Fenrir… I appreciate your candor but it's not about any artifact, they defeated my four elemental fiends, as a group, and just strolled out of there without a hint of remorse." Azazel said with a snarl.
"And why were your elemental fiends hanging out in a dungeon?" the King asked.
"I wanted to give them some free food, some time to relax. Instead, these masked travelers who are too afraid to reveal their faces storm in and kill the whole bloody lot! That's a group of three S ranked, and one SS ranked demon fiends and no one else is curious as to who this group might be?" Azazel demanded.
"Honestly, I don't see why you're so angry, Azazel." Sora said politely. "I understand it's frustrating to lose powerful allies, but what would you like the council to do? Punish a party clearing a dungeon that they likely found on a Quest board? Discourage humans, Uthra, vampires, demons, or anyone from taking a job? Don't you think that would bring more harm than good?"
With a kind smile, the King interjected before Azazel could respond.
"That's a fine point as always, Sora. You need to learn from Sora, Azazel. He's young but wise beyond his years. Calm and cool in every situation. What would you like the Council to do with this party, once we've discovered who they are? They have every right to wear party attire. No where in our laws does it state they cannot wear matching uniforms, nor does it say they cannot wear masks."
"That's not Azazel's point, your majesty. I think what Azazel is concerned about is that there's an unknown party out there that could challenge the council and cause an uprising," Malphas, the demon who accompanied Azazel to the meeting, stated calmly.
Dorian let out a large laugh. "Someone the council couldn't handle. You're too much. You don't think the original vampire and his wife, the King of the Uthra, the Demon King and his Commander in chief, the Alpha King and Queen of over 10 different Omega werewolf packs, the only SS ranked humans known to humankind and Sora Lockheart, half-god, half Uthra couldn't handle a party of four adventurers?!"
Aside from Azael and Malphas, the rest of the room laughed. They were right. What was a party of four against this Council, let alone the armies each of them commanded.
"Fine, I will no longer bring this matter up to the Council. I apologize," Azazel said, admitting defeat.
"Feel free to keep track of them and if anything does potentially threaten the Council, I do hope you know I take all of your inquiries and asks seriously," Joseph said, looking at Azazel with his kind, tired eyes.
"Thank you, your majesty," Azazel said with a slight bow.
"Now then, I'm not dead yet, so I need all of you to ensure our nation's peace. Until the day I die, this is a direct order, and you cannot disobey," Joseph said sternly.
"By your honor," they said in unison.
"If there's nothing left to address, you are free to leave. I'll see you next month. Keep watch for my passcode. It'll be at your regular pick-up point," Joseph said. He stood up and exited through the back.
Fenrir and Selene quickly followed Azazel and Malphas out of the meeting room and into a car out front. It quickly sped away and Sora realized how important it was that the King remained alive. Alliances already existed. War was brewing. He could sense it in Azazel's anger.
Congratulations, you have passed your goal of: Make a good impression at the Council meeting. You have earned three instant level ups. You are now level 48 of ???. 0/400,000 experience.
"Sweet! Thanks, system." Sora thought, as he looked at the empty chair next to him. "If only Brie could sit here next to me… maybe that would make the others happy."
****
"Hey system, what does he mean our regular pick-up point?"
He drops off a sealed envelope in everyone's master bedroom. No one's quite sure how he accomplishes this, but the King has magic not known to all.
"Crazy," Sora thought.
"Hey, Camilla, do you mind having lunch with Dorian and me? There's a lot I'd like to catch up on." Sora asked.
"Certainly, that sounds great." Camilla said with her perfect smile.
"Jackson and Elizabeth, I'd also like to set up a time and place to sit down and meet with both of you. Can you please text me and let me know what works best for you? I'm sorry, it's rather urgent I speak with Dorian and Camilla. It's something only the vampires can answer," Sora said.
"Yes, we can do that. Thank you for remembering us as well!" Jackson said emphatically.
"I feel bad lying about the real reason I need to talk to Dorian, but I can't leave the humans out. I'm going to need every ally I can get." Sora thought.
Sora's car met Dorian and Camilla at a local, luxury restaurant fit to serve any race. Dorian and Camilla ordered raw steak with blood to drink, and Sora ordered a rather large steak lunch himself with a glass of water.
"Ok Sora, so what's on your mind?" Dorian asked.
"Ok, first, I need you to trust me with something. I'm the leader of the party with the white masks. We're dungeon clearing in order to rank up as quickly as we can, and it's where I've found my party members." Sora said quietly.
"Ha! Camilla, I told you, didn't I! Go ahead, ask her Sora. I told her just last night-- I bet that the party was you and you were investigating something regarding the demons." Dorian boasted.
Sora smiled in relief as Camilla nodded and said, "Yes Sora, quite the detective, my 2,500-year-old husband."
"Ah, yet you look as beautiful as the day I met you, all those thousands of years ago," Dorian said, while giving his wife a kiss.
"It must be nice to have someone love you that much. I wonder how many kids they actually have?" Sora thought.
The Ashwood's have over 20 children. Their oldest is 2470 years old, and their youngest is 19 years old. They also have several grandchildren, etc, but for vampires, the family ties are quite different than humans, as they live until they decide to go into their eternal slumber.
"Oh, thanks system. I should have just asked you in the first place."
"Anyway, I have a vampire, an Uthra and a human in our group, but we're searching for a secret dungeon known as the Monolith. Have you heard of it?" Sora said, very softly.
"I believe our youngest, Jubelle, would be able to assist you in tracking down a dungeon. His vampiric ability allows him to track almost anything. There's no riddle he can't solve and no puzzle he can't finish. He's a bloody genius." Camilla bragged.
"Do you think he'd be willing to join my party and make a seal with me? All of our party members are sworn to the same conditions, more or less. He'd be able to come and go as he wished, he'd just be sworn to secrecy. I already trust you two, so no need for sealing magic," Sora said politely.
"Let me give him a call and ask him. He could use some interaction with others. He's lost in his books and hasn't made many friends at school," Dorian frowned as he spoke.
"If he's willing, I'll have him swing by your mansion later today, if that's ok with you. That should give you plenty of time to ask your party?"
"They trust me and Sasha Valencia knows and trusts you really well." Sora said.
"Oh, so you are partied up with Sasha Valencia. So, you must be in a party with Brianna Reinhardt as well. Then tell me, who is the fourth?" Dorian asked.
"You never cease to amaze me, Dorian. Your wit is top notch. I won't reveal his name, but he's an Uthra, and a powerful one." Sora said.
"That's enough for today. I believe we have unwelcomed ears entering this restaurant for a meal," Camilla said.
Azazel, Malphas, Fenrir and Selene walked into the restaurant and sat down to eat on the other side of the establishment. Thankfully, they weren't paying attention and didn't notice Sora and the Ashwoods.
"Well, it was great catching up with you Sora. I'll let Sasha's father know she's still partied up with Brie doing their best to rank up." Dorian said with a wink.
After hugging both Dorian and Camilla goodbye, Sora quickly walked to his car, which was waiting for him out front.
"Hey system, take me home. Please." Sora thought as he pushed the start button on the car.
Certainly. You should arrive in approximately 15 minutes.
Sora wished the ride was longer. He needed time to digest everything he just learned. As his car parked in the garage, Brie was sitting on the trunk of her sports car, staring down at her phone.
"You're finally back!" she said as he got out of the car.
"Yes, it feels good to be home. Today was… a lot." Sora said, clearly exhausted.
Brie ran up and gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Well, I figured as much. Sasha and Levi are out doing a dungeon run. It's just the two of us– so I figured maybe we could take a walk in your garden and maybe sit down for dinner, just the two of us?" Brie's face turned bright red as she asked quietly.
"Let me get changed, that sounds lovely," Sora said with a smile. Suddenly, he didn't feel tired anymore. After spending all day around Dorian and Camilla, and after Elizabeth's comment about Sora's lack of a girlfriend, he couldn't help but smile and wonder.
"Maybe Brie is worth getting to know on a more intimate level?" Sora thought, as he smiled and rushed to get changed.