Rhode eventually ended up accepting the quest issued by Griselda.
[Quest: Kyoto Turmoil] [Objective: Investigate information regarding the Grigori (Watchers of God's Children) and the witches. Hand the intelligence over to Griselda once obtained.] [Reward: Random Reward x1]
While Rhode already knew some of the details, the specifics required a proper investigation. This meant he would have to personally venture into harm's way.
He had only just promised Suzaku Himejima yesterday that he would stay here as an ordinary tourist, yet today he was already beginning an intelligence operation. However, Rhode didn't feel a shred of guilt or hesitation. If he didn't do quests, wasn't he just making life difficult for his own rewards?
After all, Rhode's moral compass was extremely flexible.
Of course, investigating this matter wouldn't be easy. Although the quest map had marked important locations, Rhode didn't think that simply showing up would be enough to finish the job.
As he pondered his next move, it suddenly occurred to him that the vast majority of the underground forces active in Tokyo were connected to the Khaos Brigade. And didn't he happen to have an identity on hand that could get him in contact with them?
With that thought, Rhode immediately pulled up his contacts, found Jeanne's number, and dialed.
"Hello?" The call was answered quickly.
"I didn't expect you to call me so soon, little brother. Did a single day apart make you miss your big sister?"
A peculiar lilt came through the receiver. Even without seeing her, Rhode could perfectly imagine the expression on Jeanne's face.
"Indeed. For me, a day apart feels like three autumns. If possible, I certainly wouldn't mind getting closer to you," Rhode replied.
On the other end, there was a sudden pause. Rhode could clearly hear her breathing hitch slightly.
"My, you certainly have a way with words, little brother. You're much easier to talk to than little Sieg or Heracles."
Mentioning Siegfried made Rhode think of the protagonist from the Fate/Apocrypha anime. To summarize that guy: he started with nothing but a pair of white underwear and relied entirely on "drops" for his gear. In the anime, Jeanne fell for him, but in the FGO game scripts, she cut ties at lightning speed, claiming they weren't that close.
"It just so happens I have a task on my hands. I'm not sure if you'll take it, but there's no harm in listening, right?"
"Go ahead," Rhode nodded.
"There is an organization called the 'Abyssal Connection' that we've been looking into for a long time. We had a brief encounter with them before, and we've recently learned they are currently operating in the Far East. Since we need to negotiate with them, we plan to send someone to meet them face-to-face," Jeanne explained patiently.
Back in that vampire bar in Rome, she had thought Rhode was strong, but he had turned out to be far more powerful than she imagined. Although those mid-tier vampires weren't much to brag about, he had handled them with clinical efficiency. After returning, she had mentioned this to Cao Cao and the others. Cao Cao, having organized the Hero Faction, naturally welcomed capable individuals like Rhode.
"Of course, per our previous agreement, you have the right to choose whether to accept or not. If you decline, we'll just send someone else."
[Jeanne has issued a new quest to you] [Quest: Abyssal Connection] [Objective: Act as a representative of the Hero Faction to meet with the underground forces operating here and investigate relevant intelligence.] [Reward: Random Reward x1 upon success]
Rhode marveled at how useful it was to have multiple identities. One single task could trigger two quests and two rewards. If he joined the Five Principal Clans, he might even be able to refresh a third one.
On second thought, he realized that was unlikely. The Five Principal Clans were notoriously xenophobic. They were like the great clans in cultivation novels—everyone from the inner circle to the ancestors shared the same bloodline. It was impossible for an outsider to wedge their way in, let alone become an "outer disciple."
After making arrangements for Asia, Rhode followed the system map to a remote, abandoned factory.
He didn't bother complaining about why villains always loved picking these kinds of places as bases, but he was certain that if the authorities just bothered to redevelop abandoned areas in a timely manner, half these problems wouldn't exist.
There was no one guarding the perimeter. From the outside, it looked like a desolate, uninhabited wasteland. However, Rhode could sense several layers of magical barriers set up nearby. Anyone entering a certain range would be detected by the mages controlling the seals.
This was exactly why Rhode didn't particularly like mages. If you wanted to sneak in, you usually ended up having to kill everyone.
Fortunately, Rhode was currently wearing the mantle of the Hero Faction, so this time, he could walk in through the front door.
When he was fifty meters from the entrance, Rhode felt a magical pulse sweep over him. Shortly after, several cloaked figures emerged from the corners of the walls. They wore dark witch robes, their faces almost entirely obscured by the low-hanging brims of their hoods.
As Rhode approached, the decaying gates slowly groaned open under the influence of magic. He was met by several individuals dressed in distinct attire.
One of them wore a purple robe that was far more vibrant than the other mages. Her face was fully visible, revealing a foreign woman in her late forties or fifties. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a prominent aquiline nose characteristic of Europeans, which made her gaze seem even sharper.
Standing behind her was a girl with short hair wearing a Gothic Lolita dress. Her innocent-looking face watched Rhode with curiosity, her outfit and temperament clashing jarringly with the surroundings.
"I heard from Satanael that someone claiming to be from the Hero Faction might want to cooperate with us recently. I take it that's you?"
The purple-robed witch looked down at Rhode with an air of superiority, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. Rhode had changed into tactical gear, with a Nichirin Sword and a handgun hanging from his waist. Even if he was here for a negotiation, he couldn't exactly show up in boxers and flip-flops.
"I know your 'introduction.' You claim to be entirely human, yet most of you possess legacies from ancient heroes. However, you look quite young. Is the Hero Faction composed of children like you?"
Though they might become allies in the future, it was only a possibility. As a high-ranking mage from Oz, she harbored a natural disdain for other humans. As for "ancient heroes"—if those heroes were here in person, she might show a modicum of respect. But looking at Rhode, she simply saw a child.
"By the way, whose descendant are you supposed to be?"
At this, Rhode thought for a moment before speaking. "Standing before you is a former freelance exorcist, a scion of the Flame and Yellow Emperors, a Descendant of the Dragon, a direct bloodline descendant of Fuxi Taihao—one of the Three Sovereigns—and a current honorary member of the Hero Faction: Rhode."
The surrounding witches were stunned. Rhode's expression remained unchanged. He wasn't lying!
Besides, when you're out and about, your identity and face are whatever you claim they are.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (63 Chapters – Ongoing)
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