(A/N: This fic has reached 1,000,000 views! Thank you so much, everyone! I can't believe it's happened again! I'll keep trying my best to stay somewhat consistent with chapter releases, but seeing this milestone is evidence to me that people like this more than I thought they would, and that this fic isn't too bad, at least. I say this considering quite the hot and inflammatory start with all the stuff the MC said and thought and what the MC's views on certain things are. I was sure that would be a turnoff, but apparently not? Anyway, thanks again! I hope you enjoy this chapter.)
[80: Ensuring A Secret Stays Hidden]
"What the hell is this?" Eleanor muttered to herself. While Japan was melting down over the HPSC scandal, Eleanor was looking at the messages she was receiving from Aoyama. They were abnormal, to say the least.
"Aoyama, what in the world are you sending me?" Eleanor continued muttering to herself. But she quickly focused and got to work. She was going to discover why Aoyama was sending what he was.
"This is way too different from what he usually sends. Let's see. A message asking to meet at night? Alone? Yeah, no. That's never happening. What else? A secret hideout and base hiding a bunch of villains? Come on, do better. And what are these leading questions? No…this isn't the Aoyama that would send these kinds of messages." Eleanor started her cyber offensive. Her tablet lit up. She used some other computing systems to help her out as well.
"And the information itself. Huh? Passages, routes, hideouts, names, pictures of people and locations." Eleanor narrowed her eyes at what she was seeing. "This is good information. Way too good. These pictures are too clear and high-quality. Let alone mentioning the actual locations they supposedly represent."
Eleanor opened a virtual machine on one of the computers. She connected her tablet to the computer. She looked through the pictures, specifically the extensions. "Okay, the pictures are safe to download. No fake image extensions." She downloaded the pictures on the virtual machine.
As soon as they were downloaded. She started conducting an error level analysis and a pixel and noise analysis. The ELA would highlight parts of an image that compressed differently, making it stand out brightly on an ELA map. The pixel and noise analysis scans for inconsistent RGB pixel values, localized noise streams, or repeated patterns that do not match the surrounding camera sensor noise.
After running the results, Eleanor smirked. "Heh. I knew it. These pictures are lit up like a Christmas tree. What are you up to, Aoyama, with this fake stuff?"
Eleanor stood and headed to a window. She summoned her bow and shot a yellow energy arrow into the sky. The arrow transformed into a drone, heading to Aoyama's house. This drone would follow and spy on Aoyama at all times, specifically tracking the messages he received and what he sent to Eleanor.
"Alright, now we wait. I'll see what you're up to, Aoyama."
⁂
(A few hours later)
A ping finally got Eleanor's attention.
She quickly went to check on it. Aoyama received a message from an anonymous source. Eleanor, however, was able to see the location data for it. She could see where the message was sent from.
"Hmm…no, that would be a bit too easy. Let me try something." Eleanor started sending a message to Aoyama. Something simple and basic.
It was sent.
As soon as she sent it, another ping. She saw it. Something, or someone, was listening in on the message. Well, they were monitoring it, because it happened on Aoyama's end. From Aoyama's phone, the data was rerouted. The message itself was encrypted, random garbage to any reader without the key to decrypt it.
"Huh. Nothing about the information was changed. Just copied and rerouted."
Again, the location of the rerouted data popped up. It was the same spot. "No way. It can't be this easy."
She continued monitoring the communications.
"Damn it. Okay, this is real. The only ones who would be focused so much on what Aoyama is doing are the League of Villains. Someone in there is storing the messages and data between Aoyama and me. It may be encrypted, but no encryption is unbreakable. Well, except for one-time pads, if you want to be strict about it. Enough time and a good enough computer, and it'll break. Which means all my information will be exposed, including using Aoyama as a double agent and other strong evidence to link to a bunch of other stuff. This isn't good." Eleanor muttered to herself as she realized what was at stake. She felt a tingling sensation all around her body.
Eleanor had operated this entire time without any hard evidence connecting her. At best, it was speculation. The only thing that could be linked to her fully was her raid on the Shie Hassaikai compound, and that was only because she didn't bother to hide it, since it was worth any consequence she would face eventually.
Well, calling it "consequences" would be very nice. She had a good idea of what would happen the day she reunited, if she ever did, with UA High School. She would be arrested, and she was willing to be arrested, but only because she knew what would happen next.
But that was all. She didn't want anything else to be connected to her. The raid on the Shie Hassaikai compound was vigilante behavior, yes, but it had a strong emotional aspect to it that separated it from most other vigilante activities.
And now this threatened that.
"And here I thought the League of Villains would be out of my hair for a while. I guess not. They're storing the data, most likely on something physical. How do I even start getting something like that?"
Eleanor thought about it further, muttering to herself. "I'll need to recall Toga and Jin. But Toga will be a problem. She can't keep her mouth shut. If she sees what's on the device, I don't trust her to stay quiet about it. And Jin…Toga might influence him too much. I get the data, destroy it, and then bam, Toga starts blabbering. I think Kaina is right about Toga. They'll be loose ends. Dangerous loose ends."
⁂
(Some Time Later)
"Hey, Eleanor! We're back! What'd you call us back for? It seemed a bit urgent." Toga skipped into the hideout, Twice following behind her.
"Ah, Toga and Jin, come in. It is urgent. I know I said you two would move on the MLA instead of the League of Legends, but one of my sources discovered something suddenly. Something that the two of you would be good at. Infiltration. I need you two to get something and return it."
"Oh?! This sounds really fun!" Toga had a giant smile on her face.
"Well, not really. You two will be going into the heart of the League of Villains. It'll be dangerous, but I believe you two can pull it off. You two have already moved against the League of Villains multiple times, so you should be familiar with how they operate."
"Yeah, we've picked up a few things here and there. Do you have a plan?" Twice asked.
"Well, the plan is this. You two are going to capture a gold mine of intel from the League of Villains. This will require infiltrating and possibly fighting for your life. But look, you two need to infiltrate. I can provide the escape. I'll fly in and get you on board an aircraft quickly. Of course, the specific details will be up to you two on the ground. Your goal is just to get the intel and get out. It'll be a physical device, something you can carry with you in one hand."
"Why can't you come with us, Eleanor?" Twice asked.
"I'm sure you two have seen all the stuff going on with the HPSC, right?" Eleanor asked.
"Oh yeah! It's been so fun watching all of that! It'd make a great story to tell! Imagine it! I'll tell everyone about what me and you did together!" Toga was excited at the thought.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes slightly. "Uh huh, right, yeah." Eleanor handed a few documents to Toga and Twice. "This is the location you'll be going to."
"Huh, it's a little remote, isn't it?" Twice said. "This looks like a compound."
"Are we getting some of your fancy toys?" Toga asked.
"Yes. I'll provide you with some drones to help you. They'll be autonomous drones. Just turn them on, and they'll start fighting. I've already adjusted the information to identify you two as friendly, so you don't need to worry about friendly fire."
"Alright, sounds great! I loved using them last time for big explosions!" Toga said, happily remembering the time.
"Relax a little, Toga. This one is actually the most serious one we've done." Twice said.
"Oh, okay. You can trust us to take care of this, Eleanor! We got you!" Toga said.
"The drones are prepared. You'll need to haul them in boxes. But they're special ones. Just press a button, and all the drones will start flying out, ready to attack," Eleanor explained.
Eleanor handed them something else. "This is a signaling device. Use this, and it'll let me know when to come and pick you two up. Also, don't forget to let me know when you are about to start. As you can tell from the outside, I'm going to be busy with some things."
"You worry too much! We can do this!" Toga said.
"Alright, Toga. You two start getting ready and head out as soon as possible. I'll be doing some other stuff." Eleanor left the room, leaving Toga and Twice alone.
⁂
As soon as Eleanor was alone, she sighed.
"You okay, Eleanor?" Lady Nagant's voice came suddenly.
Eleanor jolted slightly. "Whoa, Kaina, you kind of snuck up on me. Um, did you hear all of that?"
"I heard enough. Eleanor. I'll say it again. To—"
Eleanor interrupted Kaina. "I know, Kaina. I think you're right. It's…too risky."
"Eleanor, I trust you more than I ever would those two. And…and for some reason, I…I feel like you do as well. I can't exactly explain it."
"You're not wrong, Kaina. I trust you as well. I trust you to…well, to not talk about certain things."
Eleanor and Lady Nagant were silent for a moment, enjoying each other's company. Though there wasn't any physical contact.
It was Lady Nagant who spoke up first. "Sometimes I feel it should've just been the two of us, Eleanor."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, I do. I have more…chemistry with you than I do with the other two. I mean, I barely interact with them."
"Well, we tend to be separated more than not, Kaina."
"True, but…I don't see myself with them the way I do with you."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "Uh…what do you mean by that, Kaina?"
Lady Nagant held up her hands and looked away, the faintest dust of pink on her cheeks. "W-wait! Hold on! That didn't come out how I thought it would."
Eleanor smiled and got closer to Lady Nagant, their faces getting close. "Really? 'Cause I like how it came out."
"Oh, come on, this isn't the time, Eleanor. That last time was something different."
Eleanor put her finger on Lady Nagant's chin and turned her face towards her. Eleanor spoke in a soft whisper as she got really close to Lady Nagant. "Well, then, I guess I'll have to make the time."
⁂
End of Chapter
A/N: You've got to be kidding me! NO! Curse you, author! The opportunity was right there!