Digitize: Rebirth of the Silver Death God

As a secretive but important meeting began between most of the elites of the UEG, far away within an obscure building from an abandoned area, there was a very unusual scene occurring.

A car pulled up from an empty street, driving at a slow pace before it halted at this compound entrance. As if something detected it, a low beep sounded, followed by the gate opening automatically.

The car then drove into the compound before halting again at what seemed like a parking lot. But as it did this, the ground with which it parked started to sink into the earth. Soon, the car had vanished below the concrete, which was sealed off, giving it the appearance as if nothing had changed.

Deep below the earth, the car which had descended on an elevator had arrived in a white room. Around it was a series of floating drones that spiraled around it before firing a series of laser beams.

After thoroughly scanning the vehicle, the drones then synchronized before flying into different compartments on the walls and vanishing behind automatic white doors.

As if it took that as a cue, the car's door opened, revealing a familiar face, a powerful-looking man with spiky hair, an x shaped scar on his left eye with an eye patch over its socket, garbed in a stylized coat and black gloves.

'Heh, so secretive and classy as always, but then again, I should expect no less from a Grandus.'

Irak though as he walked from the car towards a wide white hallway.

While walking, his eyes caught sight of a few statues at the side, some giving off a peculiar presence, but as if he didn't care, Irak turned his attention forward while moving.

The statues turned their eyes towards him as if they were living things, but none of them did anything in the end as if held back by something.

After a little over a minute of walking, Irak had arrived at the end of the hallway; he stood before a wide door and pushed it, causing it to open with a loud creaking noise.

After being doused by a bright white light, the scene behind the doorway soon unveiled itself, showing a simple-looking room with another familiar-looking man at its center.

Staring at the middle-aged man that sat calmly on a chair, facing the direction of a large computer screen, Irak shook his head while muttering, "Che! As narrow-minded as usual."

He no longer stood still but walked up close and stood behind the person with those words said. Irak's eyes then focused onto the computer screen, noticing that it showed an isolated room with two persons that had a look of panic on their faces as they sat with their arms chained to a desk.

"Hey, let us out, do you know that what you're doing is punishable by the law? You can't keep us here forever!"

The young woman spoke in a flurry, but sadly, no one seemed to be answering them, adding further to her anxiety. The male remained silent, but his eyes showed a tired look as if he was exhausted, it even showed regret as he stared at the young beauty.

"So, these are the fellows that crossed the wall, Grail; what are you thinking of doing with them?" Irak said with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Grail, only now seemed to have noticed Irak, he turned towards him with a hint of surprise in his eyes as he asked, "Irak, I thought you were only passing by when you saved the child of Agustas; what are you still doing here, shouldn't you be at that place?"

Irak shook his head at this as he spoke, "Oh, so you do know that I saved his son, humph! You better up the quality of those guards you have hanging around."

"Tsk, such a measly assassin wouldn't have been anything for my soldiers, don't act like none of them couldn't save him themselves. Besides, a man should learn to grow through danger, don't think that I'll let my men step in if he can't fight back to protect himself," Grail said with a strict look.

Irak chuckled at this as he spoke, "Ha, you're still the same as always, no wonder your son took on that name. Anyway, you asked me why I'm here? Didn't you even receive a report from those machines just now?"

Grail glared at him for a while, but he didn't press him over his earlier words. He scratched the back of his head as he replied, "Ah, yes, I had forgotten about those things; I programmed them only to destroy unfamiliar signatures."

"What? Then what if an ally whose hiding his status paid a visit?" Irak asked with a puzzled look on his face.

Grail stared at him and answered in a matter-of-fact tone, "What do you think? It would eradicate them."

Irak made a baffled look as he marveled at Grail's logic; he tried to hold back his laugh but still couldn't in the end.

"Haha, you truly never change; I hope that poor son of yours doesn't inherit too much of your traits."

"Hmph! You bastard, that's enough about me; what the hell are you doing in my base?" Grail said with a slightly red face; he wouldn't tell if he was angry or embraced.

Irak smirked at this; he tapped his shoulder and spoke, "Let's just say that I came to visit, I didn't so long ago return from the gap, but I won't talk about that for now. You should be explaining this situation to me; what caused all this recent mess?"

Grail gave him a good look before he turned his attention onto the screen once more, pointing at the person as he spoke, "That male is called Osbon Jilfren, and that little lass is Sera Godfrey. They're both from the law enforcement inspection division. Hmph! They've been sticking their noses into these matters for a while now. I took steps to warn them once, but even after that, they still went and did such a foolish thing."

Irak was a bit interested as he heard those words; he looked at the duo before he spoke, "Oh, they must have quite the guts. I suppose you've already determined their fates, or are you planning on waiting for the rest of High Command's decision."

Grail showed a look of mock as he replied, "High Command? Am I not also High Command? My family doesn't need the consent of either power to make a decision. As for these fellows, I've decided to let them learn the hard way. My group had been lacking a few extra hands lately, and I think with a bit of training, they might prove to be useful."

Irak saw the bright light in Grail's eyes and couldn't help but shake his head as he thought to himself, 'Well now, that look again, he doesn't even look half as upset as he sounds, heh... I bet he must have been eyeing them for their skills for a while now.'

Irak noticed that Grail was about to zoned out again as his attention turned back towards the screen; he sighed before he spoke, "Fine, I won't butt in any further; I'll get to the point for my visit."

Grail, hearing those words looked at Irak once more; his eyes narrowed as he wondered why such a character had appeared now of all times.

Irak remained silent before he spoke in a solemn tone, "I have news about the Gap."

Grail's eyes turned stern when he heard those words, Irak seeing his manner, then continued, "That side has started to make movements..."

"What? Then how long do we have?" Grail asked with a look of concern on his face.

Irak sighed before shaking his head side to side as he replied, "Not long, a year or even less."

Grail frowned as he clenched his fists tightly, his eyes showing a look of remembrance as if he could see the silhouette of a tall and powerful figure, standing before him as his words resounded at the core of his mind.

"I'll leave everything else to you."

When those words sounded in his mind, the figure vanished, and the short moment of recollection faded.

'Augustas…' Grail thought as he gritted his teeth, showing a look of determination as he stared at Irak and spoke, "Irak."

When Irak heard his call, he gave Grail a look, noticing the firm expression he had; Irak felt a little better as he smiled and spoke, "So, what have you decided?"

Grail rose from his seat and walked before him, the two almost of the same height, with Irak being slightly taller. The mood in the room though dark, carrying a hopeful spirit as if foreshadowing something as Grail spoke, "I'll be joining you in the next raid."

Irak was a bit surprised at this, he was about to reject it, but as he saw that Grail was serious, he remained silent for a while before he answered.

"Fine, I could use a little help on those lines; it's not easy to have those other pests watching my back. I won't keep up any more of your time; take these few months to sort out your affairs just in case."

After saying those words, Irak gave Grail a look before he turned around and vanished into thin air, employing a high-speed movement technique.

Grail stared in the direction Irak left before he regained his focus; he turned his attention towards the screen showing Osbon and Sera.

"Now then, let's see your resolves," Grail said as he turned and left the room, headed towards their location, the scene here now quiet as the day continued.