Dungeon Raider System-Chapter 645: The mission Part 2

"It doesn't make what I said any less true. With my help, the young bookworm's research would have turned into a one sided teaching about matters I don't really understand. Don't see your efforts to find the truth as reinventing the wheel, but as creating a legacy of your own.

Who knows, maybe your future family is the one that gets to survive this trying times and they pass on your own version of the truth to the next human civilization." Mister Scofield said with a wry smile that turned into a stern glare when he looked at Jon. "About you, you were already an adult when we met and you were capable of making your own decisions.

If the content of your wallet was more important to you than serving the rest of humanity, telling you the truth would have made no difference. Sure, you may have joined the army, but out of selfish reasons."

"And now you're expecting me to see the error of my ways and join the army with the tail between my legs!?" Jon grunted after shamelessly drinking the glass of whiskey Mister Scofield had left unattended.

"No, it's too late for that. Due to your long lasting alliance with the Mapple corporation the army considers you a liability. As for why I'm here you could say I'm here for official business.

As you all know, Samael Song has been branded as an enemy of humanity and the army needs you to hunt him down through whatever means necessary." The fact that Sam was now a rogue hunter didn't come as a surprise to any of those present, but the atmosphere turned dense nonetheless.

Even if Sam committed unforgivable sins they knew the actual culprit was Water warlock which made them reluctant to hunt their friend. That, and also the fact that he was now a holy rank hunter and possessed a trait that far surpassed anything they've seen.

Sam's eyes allowed him to see everything, he had his own version of celerity, he also proved to be immune to Medusa's trait and there was no tell on how strong he became after becoming a holy rank hunter. In short, hunting Sam wasn't just something they didn't want to do, they were also painfully aware that it was a feat impossible for them.

"How can you expect us to do something like that when even you failed? We don't have the army's resources and lack a holy rank hunter. But let's say for argument's sake we can take him down, what is in it for us? It might take us years and all our resources." Surprisingly, it was Nika the first to break the silence and with a sensible question at that.

"Sam may have founded his own company, but on the eyes of the army it may as well be a facade and you're still working together. After all, he's had many opportunities to kill all of you and yet he didn't. I'm not accusing you of anything, but it doesn't look good. The reason why I asked the colonel to take Sage outside the city was to test if Sam would spare his life or not.

Needless to say, we didn't like the result. Our men collapsed while you remained standing and even chatted with him."

"Dad! Are you admitting to using the boss as bait!?" Lizzy Dragonfang asked in disbelief.

"I would have intervened if Sam was to attempt something." Despite his decorated uniform and gallant posture, Mister Scofield looked like a scolded child when Miss Dragonfang said those words.

"So you're saying you could have intervened and saved my life if Sam tried anything, then why don't you just hunt him down yourself, then?" Uriel's cold tone of voice was a statement on its own. The fond memories he had of the old librarian were turning sour with each word that came out of Mister Scofield's mouth.

"I'm stronger, but he's faster. We've tried capturing him several times and we laid several traps to lure him out, but his trait allows him to spot us at a distance and before we get to him he flies away to the shadowlands where we can't follow.

Young bookworm, I came here as a friend and I want you to stay safe, but as a commander of the army it is my duty to order you to take Samael Song down and prove your innocence." Mister Scofield spoke in the authoritative manner of speech only a soldier could muster. Just the tone indicated that questions like 'why' and 'how' where meaningless and only results mattered.

"It seems you'll have a rough time hunting a holy rank hunter, pal." Jon Hunter patted Uriel's back with a mocking grin on his face.

"The same applies to you. You're still a Mapple corporation employee and they've been the most affected by the Lighbringer's misdeeds. He's targeting all the zeppelins and turned our continent into a no fly zone. With this he cut our chain of supply and by taking down the communication arrays he's also managed to keep us from asking reinforcements to the old continent."

"Bollocks." Jon grunted as reality hit him. As much as he hated the idea of facing Sam, letting him on the loose was even worse.

Every zeppelin Sam managed to take down could be considered as a failure that weighed directly upon Jon's shoulders and while he knew Walter Works would understand his circumstances, the same couldn't be said about the Mapple corporation of which the old man had no control anymore.

Watching the interactions between the two holy rank hunters made Uriel realize that Jon acted with Mister Scofield the same way he acted when he faced against Jon. He hissed some threats and acted tough, but it was just that, an act. It also got him to realize that although he defeated Allegro, defeating someone like Mister Scofield was impossible.

Before, he thought of Jon as both the benchmark and an impossible enemy, yet Mister Scofield spoke to Jon as though he was a child.

Then a question arose in Uriel's mind, one that would change his perspective. 'If Mister Scofield was unable to defeat Sam, then he's asking me something he knows it's impossible.' It brought him back to the times when they chatted about their interests or their recent reads and the smile Mister Scofield gave him whenever he turned up at the library with a long list of book requests.

The man in front of him was nothing like the amicable librarian who looked more like a butler than a fighter. His height and facial features were the same, but his bearing was that of a man of authority and insurmountable power and yet, he showed up in person and took the time to chat instead of using his power and influence to break in like Lister did when he needed something from them.

'He's the same Mister Scofield I know, but then... why did he order me something so unreasonable?Unless...' Uriel cut his thoughts short as a smile was drawn on his face, then he turned to Mister Scofield and performed a flawless, though outdated, military salute. "Thank you, Sir. Me and my company are at your orders."

"The army expects great things from you, Lieutenant Sage." Mister Scofield replied with a smile of his one when he realized that Uriel had grasped the true meaning of his visit. "I'm heading to the headquarters soon and I'm glad I got to see my daughter one last time before parting."

"You don't want to take her with you?" Nika butted in.

"Boss Nika, please don't say something like that, I don't want to leave the company!" Miss Dragonfang pouted.

"She's her own woman and can make her own decisions. Lizzy, I know you left the army, but I'm still proud of you. You're the living image of your mother." Mister Scofield gave her daughter a brief hug before turning to leave.

"Seriously, take her! We don't mind!" Nika shouted as she pushed Miss Dragonfang behind Mister Scofield.

"So, it turns out we were right about everything and wrong about everything at the same time. What should we do now?" Jon asked after letting out an exasperated sigh.

"What are you even doing here now?" Uriel glared at Jon with the same cold glare he used to direct at him before stealing his wallet. Even if Jon actually knew his father there was no point in asking him anything about a man who probably didn't even tried to look out for his own son.

"You heard the old weasel, we're together in this." Jon said with a smug smile.

"I heard him, but it seems you weren't playing attention. Up until now I've let you come and go from our zeppelin because Medusa sees you as family, no pun intended. But you belong to a different company. They may think nothing of us because we're small, but we see them as rivals."

"Rivals!? Don't make me laugh. To them, you're nothing but ants!" Jon laughed merrily, though no one accompanied him. Not even Seiren who after spending so much time with the Dungeon Raiders had grown fond of them. "Come on, Seiren, they'll call us when they realize they can't do anything without me."