Chapter 256: Reputation
The headquarters of Grimoire Heart was a massive airship, silently drifting above the clouds.
Inside the airship's grand meeting room, an elderly man with an eye-patch and a long, imposing beard sat at the head of a large table. He looked calmly around at the gathered mages.
"How did the operation go?" he asked, his voice deep but oddly gentle.
Caprico, who resembled a sophisticated goat-man, adjusted his glasses politely. "All of our captured members have been safely retrieved, Master Hades. Azuma's magic made things exceedingly simple."
Azuma crossed his arms and frowned slightly. "I didn't particularly enjoy this mission. There wasn't a single opponent worthy of my magic."
Azuma's magic allowed him to plant himself like a great tree into the earth, controlling all magical energy within a given area. Of course, this ability had limits depending on his strength and preparation time. But with Grimoire Heart's extensive intel network, selecting an ideal ambush location on the Council's escort route was child's play.
With Azuma's well-placed spell, the Council's elite squad lost their magical power instantly. Combined with Caprico's "Human Subordination Magic," rescuing their captured comrades was as effortless as plucking fruit from a tree.
To avoid raising unnecessary alarm or provoking a larger response, they had swiftly rescued their members without harming any of the Council soldiers.
"Our primary objective," Hades stated quietly, his tone thoughtful, "was simply to avoid further leaks of information. It would be inconvenient if people learned that the leader of my Seven Kin of Purgatory is actually named Ultear."
He sighed gently, tapping his finger on the table. "I've told that girl countless times to use a code name or disguise herself when she goes undercover, but she's too stubborn."
Caprico lowered his head respectfully. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have involved Zancrow and Rustyrose in unnecessary distractions."