Chapter 114: A Devious Trap
With preparations in motion and support from the council, Carl was ready to undertake the risky mission of retrieving the valuable data from John. As the hours passed and the rendezvous time drew near, he reviewed the plan with his team one last time.
The rest of the team, while still apprehensive about the operation, had to trust Carl's judgment and abilities. They were aware that this mission was fraught with danger, but it was essential to secure the information and ensure that it reached the right channels for exposure.
As the minutes ticked away, Carl set out for the secluded meeting point. The forested area was bathed in the soft glow of the moon, adding an eerie ambiance to the clandestine exchange.
Carl, quite proficient at evading both heroes and villains at this point, moved with precision and stealth. He relied on the support of the two S-grade villains who were located nearby, ready to intervene if the situation took a dangerous turn.
Upon reaching the designated meeting point, he saw John waiting. The rogue hero appeared fatigued and on edge, a testament to the mounting pressure he was under.
John approached Carl cautiously, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. This was a testament to the precarious position they both were in, with the Hero Association potentially closing in.
Carl didn't waste any time and immediately engaged in the exchange. The data drive containing the evidence was handed over. John, with a somber expression, acknowledged the magnitude of the mission.
"I appreciate your courage in coming here," John said, a hint of gratitude in his voice. "This information will be a crucial step toward exposing the HA's actions and demanding the reform that is needed."
Their conversation was brief and intense, with both individuals aware of the potential risks. As Carl made his way back, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. He had successfully retrieved the data, but the situation had unfolded too smoothly, raising suspicions about whether it was a trap.
He noticed that John's demeanor had shifted after the exchange, becoming even more wary and cautious. It was as if the rogue hero was also apprehensive about the operation's success.
As Carl neared the outskirts of the forest, he received an urgent message from Isabella through their secure communication channel. It was a warning about the impending arrival of HA heroes at their current location. The realization struck him that the threat was real.
Suddenly, as if he was a ghost, John appeared in front of Carl.
"So, this was a trap, you were never a traitor, John," Carl said as he drew his sword and stared at John before his eyes widened.
John's eyes were unfocused. The man looked more like a zombie than a normal person.
He opened his mouth with great difficulty and suddenly stared at Carl with horror.
"R-run … away."
Before Carl was able to do anything, John's stomach suddenly burst open as a pair of hands came out. The hands grabbed the two sides of the stomach before pushing both sides. In an instant, John's body was suddenly ripped in half, blood and flesh bursting around the area as a person appeared from inside his body.
The person that appeared was drenched in blood. He glanced at Carl and combed his hair back with his hand before smiling at him.
"The CSU didn't manage to get away on time, did they?"
"Well, some of them did, but most didn't, we took care of that little issue, oh, and that data that 'John' promised you, I can assure you that it doesn't exist, I just wanted to see who she was talking to." The hero that had appeared in a gruesome fashion said as he smiled at Carl.
The shock of the gruesome scene before him left Carl momentarily frozen. The person who had emerged from John's body was now speaking, revealing that the whole operation had indeed been a trap set by the Hero Association.
Carl's instincts kicked in, and he knew he needed to act quickly. He quickly took out a gadget that Blorg had given him and let it fall, creating a dense cloud of darkness that enveloped him, shrouding his movements from the hero who had emerged from John's remains.
He darted away, retreating deeper into the forest while maintaining his shadowy concealment. His mind raced, realizing the true extent of what had happened. Their entire mission was compromised as the heroes definitely knew everything at this point.
Luckily, he and the others had never met with John before, and they had never shown their faces to him.
As he moved through the forest, he used more gadgets to hide his presence and diminish the sound that came from him. His first priority was to warn his team and get the help of the two S-grades who were nearby. He discreetly activated his secure communication channel, hoping that the others had remained vigilant.
"Team, this is Carl," he whispered, his voice hushed. "The rendezvous was a trap. We were tricked, the CSU never managed to fully evade the HA, John was used as nothing but a flesh puppet, a hero came out from his body, I don't know who he is exactly."
"I'm going dark now, the HA is closing in."
The urgency in Carl's voice was palpable, and he could sense the tension building within the team as they digested the shocking revelation.
Isabella responded quickly, her voice filled with concern. "We're on our way to your location. Maintain your concealment and stay safe."
Unfortunately, Carl had already severed the connection with them, causing neither side to be able to communicate.
The forest was dense, and the cover of night played to Carl's advantage. He moved silently, knowing that the two S-grade villains from the council were still waiting nearby. The elements of darkness were his allies in this dangerous game.
The moments felt like an eternity as he waited for the rest of the team to arrive. The possibility of encountering more HA heroes or the mysterious mole kept him on high alert. Carl had no doubt that the HA would go to great lengths to capture or eliminate them.
Suddenly, the hero from before appeared in front of Carl again, a smile still present on his face.
"Did you really think those little toys would be enough to get away from me?" The hero asked with a wry smile as Carl gulped and got ready to fight.
Soon, the two S-grades will arrive, and then they will be able to fight their way through and leave this area.
"If you think those two will be able to help you, I'm afraid they are currently busy with two of my comrades, nobody is coming to save you, you're all alone here." The hero said with a smile as Carl's eyes constricted before he calmed himself down.
"You aren't a member of the HA, with your strength, you are at least an S-grade, there's no way I wouldn't know of you," Carl said with certainty before staring at the hero.
"Either you are a new member, or you are a rogue superhuman that the HA has paid to help them."
"I'm afraid neither of those two are correct my dear, I am a member of the HA, and I've been a member for a couple of years now." The man said as he walked forward.
"You don't know me simply because those that specialize in certain things, like I do, are not really suitable to be shown to the public." The hero said, completely calm and not even in the slightest worried that Carl would be able to get away and share this knowledge later.
"Cutting off the connection with your little villain friends was the correct choice, we almost had them, it's a shame you are so decisive."
"But don't worry, soon enough, you will tell us everything we wish to know." The hero said before he suddenly disappeared.
Lyle's eyes constricted to needlepoint as he ducked down on instinct, only able to hear the sound of wind being parted as something passed above his head.
He quickly jumped forward and turned in the air before swinging his sword in an attempt to cut the hero, but the only thing that he managed to do was get his sword blocked by a fingernail of the hero who continued smiling at him.
The smile was a completely calm one, one that showed just how unbothered the hero was when fighting with him.
Carl smirked as he opened his palm and was about to launch his wind before widening his eyes as the hero quickly disappeared from the front and appeared at his side.
"That movement, you are the one that can use that weird wind that drains the power of others, interesting, I didn't know I would be fighting the one that tried killing Silver Strike."
"You know, you guys did annoy me back then, I got a bit excited at the prospect of that little bastard being beaten up or killed, and you managed to do nothing but run like cowards."
"Now, let me see just how strong you really are … boy."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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