In the Looming Tower of New Janus, Francine slowly but steadily opened her droopy eyelids. Exhaustion permeated throughout her body as though her very cells ached with the weariness of life.

For the first time in her life as the Rogue Blade, she became truly tired of everything. It not only affected her physique, but it also transformed her psyche.

"Where am I?" Francine looked around the room, noticing its familiar furniture and color. It didn't take long for her to recognize whose it was.

Her scrutinizing gaze softened as she muttered to himself. "Alastair... It seems that she picked me up after I killed the old fool."

"I wonder what has happened since then?" Francine recalled her juniors, nudging the edges of her lips to subtly curve. "I hope that all of them are alright."

She wanted to close her eyelids and return to deep slumber. After all, it was much easier than moving in her state. But her eyes snapped open, a determination blazing behind them.

As someone whose title was the Rogue Blade, there was only one way for her to rest, and that was a swordmaster's death.

She even hoped to meet the same fate as her former master. Being defeated by someone stronger in the blade than anybody else she had ever known.

Until then, she didn't plan on taking a quick stop on her rugged path. It was the way of a swordsmaster, the life imprinted on her by the Espada.

"I must move!"

Standing up from the comfortable embrace of her bed, Francine walked out of the room and saw her juniors and partner gathering together in the living room.

On the walls were plans about something related to the Federation itself, with the blueprint of the New White House plastered over the pristine wall.

When she walked out of the doorway, everyone noticed her arrival. Their gazes were shocked, relieved, and delighted.

"Apologies for making all of you wait so long."

A gentle smile was plastered on her face as the gorgeous white-haired lady immediately appeared before her, hugging her tightly. "Here I thought I'd have to wait a year."

"You truly are a troublesome partner."

Alastair smirked and flicked her forehead. "I know that it's the way of the blade to duel another swordmaster. But don't forget about the people around you."

"While you were having your beauty sleep, we were dragging our asses alone to handle a federal mess."

Francine froze as she recalled the thoughts that surged through her mind when she fought against the old fool's Microcosm.

She was about to die against someone whose swordsmanship was superior to hers. Yet, she wasn't satisfied and remembered the faces of those around her.

"I-... I don't-" Before Francine could keep speaking, Alastair placed her pale fingers over the beautiful lady's ample lips and hushed her. "No need... We understand."

"Yeah, it's good that you took care of that old bastard." Hecate grinned beside Alastair while Damien stepped forward and remarked. "As long as you're alive, Francine."

"That's all that matters to us."

"In any case... I know for sure that your Microcosm isn't as refined as Old Dante. Looks like you manage to use a Macrocosm, huh?" Alastair smirked and continued.

"I should have expected no less from my partner."

A clue wouldn't have been enough to open a Macrocosm. Otherwise, those who wield it roam around the world in thousands.

It was a matter of mindset and latent potential.

Some, even if they were Paragons, wouldn't be able to awaken a Macrocosm. Ambitious people can accomplish many things in the New World.

For this reason, Alastair was disappointed when she noticed the current state of the SIGIL and the Paragons who were supposed to be their colleagues.

After their revolution, they all focused on amassing as much power as possible rather than fulfilling their ambitions. Not only that, such ambition must be selfish.

"I was lucky... I'd rather not rely on my fortune." Francine sighed to herself and turned her attention towards the plans riddled on the table.

"So... What exactly are all of you planning?" She inquired as Echidna, sitting on the sofa, glanced at her and replied. "Strategizing how to assassinate the president."

When Francine heard the response, she thought she had heard wrong until Echidna spelled it out for her once again. "We are assassinating the president."

Her sapphire-like eyes turned towards the gorgeous, white-haired lady whose arrogant smile was plastered on such a beautiful face.

"Miss Alastair... What do you think you're trying to do?"

"I didn't do anything wrong?" Alastair raised her eyebrows, confused by the glare from her partner. She was merely doing her job and dispatching a bastard working for the terrorist.

"Assassinating the president... Do you hear yourself?" Francine sighed to herself, taking a deep breath and calming her heart.

"Okay, so how are you planning to kill him?" She inquired, making the gorgeous white-haired lady smirk and point at their junior.

Damien stepped forward and explained. "I can make it look like an accidental death. But that would require a clear path to the New White House."

Hearing her junior's words, Francine nodded in understanding and pondered them. She walked towards the table and observed their plans.

"Guarding the New White House is another SIGIL Division, Block 1. The complex is heavily defended from the bottom to the top. Every corner is kept under surveillance."

"Even if you cause chaos outside the structure, the Block 1 are taught to hunker down and protect the president. They wouldn't leave their side no matter what."

"Either you kill all of them or find a way to sweep past their surveillance. Someone with invisibility or teleportation wouldn't be able to leave the New White House alive."

"The only one capable of doing so is..." Francine turned her gaze towards Alastair and continued. "But that would be declaring war on the Federation."

"Tell me what you're going to use, Damien." She asked as the black-suited young man nodded and summoned Yuki.

The lights in the living room flickered for a moment while the air was colder than ever before. Everyone could feel their breath freezing as a pale lady in a kimono materialized.

"Lord Oberon, how may I help you?" Yuki tilted her head, curious about what her master wanted after summoning her.

Alastair placed a finger below her chin, intrigued by the capabilities of her Aberrant. On the other hand, Francine had already analyzed the plan's plausibility.

"An apparition, huh? I didn't expect such creatures to actually exist." Alastair remarked while Francine nodded in understanding. "With it, the assassination of the president could be done."

"But you would have to be careful while doing so, Damien." She turned her sapphire-like eyes towards the junior she had previously taught.

In mere months, he had grown into a fine young man capable of dealing with the New World even when alone. She was somewhat proud of it.

"I'll make sure to be careful, Francine." Damien nodded, understanding his senior's warning. The capabilities of Block 1 remained unknown.

They rarely appear in public, continuously protecting the president in the shadows. The only one who might know of them was Alastair. But she didn't seem interested in talking about them.

Perhaps, the strongest of humanity merely didn't care about such things. Block 1 to the White Devil might not be that different from other divisions.

Damien opened his status and saw his Terror Points increasing. The Spectre had furthered their range, encapsulating nearby cities within their influence.

As such, his wealth was growing.

---

| Monster Gacha System |

-| Boss Title : [ Oberon ] |

-| Monster(s) : Three-Star EX Monster: Eclipse(Idol), Three-Star EX Monster: Starlight, Two-Star EX Monster: Great Devourer, Two-Star EX Monster: Neurophages, One-Star EX Monster: Prothonean, Two-Star TE Monster: Silhouettes, Four-Star TE Monster: Mechanized Draconic God, Two-Star TE Monster: Garmr, Three-Star TE Monster: Griffin, Two-Star TE Monster: Tarasque, Two-Star TE Monster: Great Serpent, Three-Star TE Monster: Fenrir, Three-Star TE Monster: Behemoth, Three-Star TE Monster: Orochi, Two-Star TE Monster: Heavenly Bull, Two-Star PA Monster: Wraith Queen, Three-Star PA Monster: Ootakemaru, Three-Star PA Monster: Crom Cruach, Two-Star PA Monster: Shadow Wolf, Two-Star PA Monster: Yuki-Onna |

-| Skill Index : Raptured Blink(Eclipse Passive), Intangible Fracture(Eclipse), Cryptic Eyes of Dominion(Eclipse Passive), Dreams of Eternity(Starlight), Void Maw(Great Devourer), Ancient Wisdom(Prothonean), Hive Assimilation(Neurophages), Duplex Operation(Silhouettes), Machine Awakening(Mechanized Draconic God), Machine Control(Mechanized Draconic God), Draconic Dominion(Mechanized Draconic God), Chains of Infernal Judgment(Garmr), Sinful Gaze(Garmr), Empyrean Overwatch(Griffin), Majesty(Griffin), Carapace of Legends(Tarasque), Extreme Constriction(Great Serpent), Petrification(Great Serpent), Bond Breaker(Fenrir), Tempest Destroyer(Fenrir), Tectonic Steps(Behemoth), Venoms of Eightfold Death(Orochi), Celestial Charge(Heavenly Bull), Wailing Death of Regency(Wraith Queen), Army of Banshee(Wraith Queen), Strength of the Demonic God(Ootakemaru), Rain of Fire(Ootakemaru), Mark of Three Deaths(Crom Cruach), Sacrifice(Crom Cruach), In The Dark(Shadow Wolf), Shadow Veil(Shadow Wolf), Frozen Tapestry(Yuki-Onna), Ice Age(Yuki-Onna) |

-| Command Seal(s): [ 289/300 ] |

| Terror Point(s) : 3115-5278 |

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