NOVPUB"This is the Dungeon Raiders' Pegasus, does anyone copy?" Unbeknownst to Medusa, her words were the spark that would soon turn into a fire no one could put down. The moment the Global Airport employees received those words they informed the authorities and the news would soon reach the governor's ears.
For some reason they didn't understand soon after the megacity of Texas fell, the megacity of Hollywood became isolated from the rest of the world. There were many theories such as a global crisis, an economical strategy to attack them or even a powerful titan besieging them.
But those were only baseless theories and provided no real answers as to why not a single zeppelin had returned to their city.
Had it been only those of the army everything would have kept going like usual, but even the Mapple corporation had failed to send their monthly convoys to restock the shops. This wasn't just unusual, it had to be the symptom of a bigger disease.
Needless to say, the government was aware of the zeppelin stored in the hangar of their city since it was Lister himself who allowed it to cross their walls despite their failure to hail the city and clarify their intentions before landing. This was also the reason why they didn't requisition it, since they had no use for a zeppelin in disrepair.
After receiving Medusa's message things changed. It was the confirmation they needed that the ship docked in their hangar worked properly and ready for the taking, yet one man stood in the middle of the government and their so desired zeppelin. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
"Please, don't take any rush actions. I know them personally and they're always willing to cooperate." The stupidly handsome man latched on to Lister's leg like a leech, forcing the latter to drag him along as he walked.
"Of course they are, it's their civic duty. That's why I'm sending the detectives to make them cooperate."
"You don't understand. If you ask them nicely and offer compensation, they'll gladly lend you the ship, but if you try to force their hand..."
"For the love of the Flag! It's just a small company battered after the loss of their city that came begging on their knees for asylum. If we 'ask them nicely' as you suggest we risk them saying no. It would also let them know of our intentions and give them enough time to fly away." Lister shook his leg, but the heavenly rank hunter refused to let go.
"That would be like kicking the proverbial hornet nest, please, you need to listen to me." Soulfire's expression said more than a thousand words could and doubts started filling Lister's mind.
"Are they really so dangerous?" He asked.
"More than you can imagine." Soulfire replied without hesitation and a relaxed face to emphasize his words. Had he not been on the floor being dragged like a mop Lister may have taken him seriously.
"You're just trying to scare me because they're your friends. My intel confirmed they have connections with the first hunter, but he exited our city a couple days ago. But even if he was still here, he remains as a Mapple corporation employee which means his hands would be tied anyway." As any competent governor, Lister did his homework before making his move.
Thanks to this, he was able to gather a considerable amount of information about the Dungeon Raiders, most of which came from rumors.
They were disconcerting to say the least, but not because of their meaning rather because of how contrasting they were to each other. Depending on who they asked, the Dungeon Raiders were either the downfall of their city or the heroes that saved the few that survived. However, Lister believed most of those rumors to be false since he knew it was actually the Mapple corporation who saved the people.
After all, he saw their zeppelins with his own eyes and even greeted some of the higher ups that day.
"If I can't change your mind, at least let me speak to them first." Soulfire stood up and dusted his silver embroidered coat that looked like a cape which gave him an imposing presence due to his broad shoulders and heavenly rank constitution.
"So you can warn them? No way." Lister replied with a straight face. Nothing Soulfire could have said would have been enough to change his mind for the simple reason that before their conversation even started he had already dispatched his men to the airport. By the time Soulfire made it to Lister's office was already too late, but the governor still decided to receive him.
It may have seemed pointless, but he was a cautious man and thanks to their conversation he was able to gather useful information from his unwitting collaborator.
"Halstead," Lister shouted and the manly secretary showed up in his office within seconds. "I need you to contact Allegro and send him to the airport."
"Is it really necessary? You know he's currently busy and won't be happy if you call him for something unimportant."
"Unimportant you say? You know how helpful would it be to have a zeppelin for our current project. It could speed up the reconstruction by weeks and save countless lives in the process. Besides, that guy is already as unhappy as someone can be and there's nothing we can change about it." Lister sighed at the thought of his city's holy rank hunter who also happened to be his close friend.
At the same time this conversation was being held, Emma and Amy were about to experience the disappointment of their lives.
Thanks to the Jaguar spirit Uriel sent, Emma was able not just to catch up to Amy but also to immensely show off in front of hundreds of attendants to the concert.
Most rich people showed up in their luxurious cars, some even in elegant limousines with their own chauffeur and even bodyguards, yet the most unique means of transportation caused everyone the wealthiest among them to turn their heads to the Jaguar spirit that announced its arrival with a roar.
Needless to say, the jaguar spirit was thrilled about having an audience for the first time and although their first reaction was fear, as soon as Emma stepped down its loin those present calmed themselves down enough to become awed instead of afraid.
"That's an entrance!" Amy cheered before jumping to help her friend compose herself.
"I thought I was going to die." Emma muttered, her cheeks red from embarrassment due to everyone looking her way, then turned to the Jaguar spirit and attempted to dismiss it to which the proud jaguar spirit replied by yawning disinterestedly and dropping on the ground.
She wasn't its master and it would refuse any command given by anyone but Uriel, though sometimes he would pretend to listen to Luna whenever they were alone due to her annoying persistence.
The concert was being held on an enclosed stadium which wasn't enormous, but the next thing. It was large enough to hold a small city's worth of population and its design spoke volumes about the city's wealth and ingenuity. Its design was flawless, aesthetic and most important, it was also safe enough to act as a shelter in case the need arrived.
It also had all the accommodations a person would need since people tho attended to such events would be forced to spend the night due to the curfew. Holding a night long event could be considered an impossible feat, but it didn't trouble the main star of that night's show.
Not just because he was a professional singer and the vocalist of the most important band in the megacity and probably in the world. His charm was enough to keep the public enthralled in his visage the entire night even if he remained silent, but he had enough stamina to perform in a week long event thanks to being a holy rank hunter.
"Thank you for coming everyone, tonight's show will be on support of our neighboring city that suffered a cryptid attack and also on memory of my loving sister, may her beautiful soul rest in peace." Allegro, Hollywood's holy rank hunter and the most popular singer in the world, spoke with a somber tone.
He was tall and handsome, just like the poster that left both Emma and Amy enamored with his appearance, but his grim face and sad eyes contrasted heavily with the picture. Still, it would have still been worth the ticket just to see him, if not for the long introductory speech he gave about his sister that followed his opening and the sobs that countered his lovely voice.
"Is this really a concert? It looks like a memorial or a funeral of sorts." Amy blurted out when Allegro paused mid song to reminisce about his sister.
"I know, right. It looks more like the kind of event Uriel would like to attend. I want a refund." Emma scoffed, until she felt the weight of the many glares sent her way by Allegro's blindly loyal fans that threatened to kill her.
