Capítulo 113: News From John
Two days had passed since Carl and his team had given John the information about the upcoming attack from the HA.
During those 2 days, they were unable to find out any information about the attack, nor about what had happened to the CSU and John. They were completely in the dark and it was quite possible that the troubles they had gone through to form a connection with John was for naught.
If the HA had managed to destroy the CSU and to either kill or arrest John, then all their troubles were for nothing.
After 2 days, however, Carl's team had gotten a message, a message from John.
They had left him with an encrypted communicator that he was able to use to send them messages. He had sent them a location and time, just as he had done in the past.
Carl, along with his team, immediately prepared for the meeting. The rendezvous location provided by John was a secluded spot on the outskirts of the city, a place that minimized the risk of being spotted by the Hero Association or the Villain Support Agency.
As the drone they sent approached the location, the tension was palpable. The unknown fate of John and CUS had weighed heavily on their minds. Had the Hero Association succeeded in dismantling the independent faction, or had John managed to evade their grasp?
The air was thick with anticipation as they arrived at the rendezvous point. They noticed that John was already there, awaiting their arrival. His presence was a relief, but the weariness in his eyes hinted at the challenges he had faced.
Carl, Luna, Rex, Isabella, Nacht, Cypher, and Blorg sighed in relief as they sent the drone forward. The meeting took place in a quiet, moonlit clearing, far from the prying eyes of the city.
"Thank you for the tip, we would have been in quite some trouble without it," John said before stepping forward.
John, wearing a disheveled version of his hero costume, greeted them. "I appreciate your prompt response," he said, his voice reflecting the turmoil he had experienced. "Things have escalated, and we need to act quickly."
"Tell us everything," Luna urged her voice firm but filled with concern.
John began to recount the events of the past two days. After receiving the warning from Carl's team about the impending HA operation, he took immediate action to safeguard CUS and prevent any potential casualties.
"We managed to disband temporarily, scattering to minimize the risk of capture. We made sure no civilians were harmed in the process," John explained. "But the Hero Association's determination to dismantle us was evident. They conducted raids on several of our safehouses, and it became clear that the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous."
Isabella chimed in, telling Luna what to ask John. "Were you able to retrieve any valuable evidence or information from the raided locations that could be used to help you guys out?"
John nodded, relief evident in his eyes. "Yes, we managed to secure important data and documents that provide concrete evidence of their misconduct. It's the ammunition we need to expose them and demand reform."
Rex, ever cautious, raised an important question that Luna relayed to John. "With this evidence in hand, what's the next step? How do we ensure that this information reaches the right people and doesn't get buried or tampered with?"
John's expression turned serious. "That's where our collaboration becomes crucial. We can't trust any single entity with this information. We need to devise a strategy to disseminate it widely, ensuring it reaches the media, the public, and even heroes within the HA who are sympathetic to the cause."
Carl nodded, understanding the gravity of their mission. "We'll need to work together to orchestrate a coordinated release of this evidence. Our alliance has already demonstrated its strength, and it's time to use that to our advantage."
"But still, it just seems way too simple, I mean, the HA has so many connections, even if you send all the evidence, it will be quite a simple thing for them to bury it deep underground, making sure that nobody will ever find anything out," Cypher added from the side, prompting Carl and the rest to frown.
"So, what do you suggest we do, I mean, you know the HA better than we do, and the CSU was formed by former members of the HA, you guys must have planned something, right?" Luna asked John who nodded his head.
"I will give you a copy of the information, we have our own channels and ways of letting it spread, you guys should do your best to do the same, after all, I doubt the VSA would miss a chance to make the civilians turn on the HA after they learn of what the latter had done."
Carl nodded as he knew that it was true.
John was playing a dangerous game here, with the information spreading, the HA would lose a lot of support, which would actually make things more in favor of the VSA, at least for a period of time.
John was probably certain that after the HA brought reforms, they could quickly bounce back and fight off the VSA, during which he would be an enemy of Carl and the others.
Both sides were doing this for their own benefit, this wasn't an alliance that was formed based on mutual respect or trust, but a temporary one formed because they had a common enemy, the HA, and how they did things.
"At 9 o'clock tonight, I will send you the location at 8:20, that's in 20 minutes, I need at least one of you to personally come here, the information is too valuable, I can't simply let a drone have it, if the HA was to somehow get here, they could easily get the information by hacking or destroying the drone, I need whichever villain you believe is good enough to even escape from the HA to get this."
"I know you probably feel that it's risky, but I am risking my life and future each time I meet with you, this is the least I expect from you, and it is the only way I will give the copy of the data," John said before turning around and leaving.
"It's too dangerous," Isabella said immediately as she turned around.
"This could very well be a trap, one from John, or perhaps from the HA, after all, the info we got arrived fairly quickly, they might have done it deliberately to bait us."
"The CSU might not be an independent organization, but a branch of the HA that was tasked with doing such things."
"I agree, even if his words are true, it is too dangerous," Cypher added from the side.
"Yes, John might even be completely trustworthy, as could the CSU, but what if the HA is following them, letting them continue doing what they did in order to catch their accomplices?" Luna added as they all frowned and started thinking.
As the team deliberated the risks and the potential traps that lay ahead, Carl found himself contemplating the situation. The balance between caution and opportunity was a fine line, and the stakes were high.
"We have to be realistic," Carl finally spoke. "John's right; the information is too valuable to entrust solely to a drone. Sending a member of our team to retrieve it in person is a risk, but it's a risk we need to take if we want to succeed in exposing the HA's misconduct, it could give the VSA an advantage, it is a big opportunity for us."
"I will go," Carl said with determination, causing the others to stare at him.
"I know what you are going to say, but if things go south, I have the utmost confidence in being able to get away, even if an S-grade hero comes, I can do it, only if an SS-grade arrives will things be difficult for me, but I can still stall for time and potentially get some backup from the VSA."
"I will notify the council of this, I am certain that they will make some preparations," Carl said before he took a deep breath and glanced at the others.
"Don't worry, I'm not the suicidal type," Carl said before smiling and leaving the office before making his way to the top floor.
Thanks to his recent findings and good record, he was allowed to meet with the two members of the council who were present right away.
He quickly spoke of what happened and told the councilmen about what was going on. This way, even if he got the data, the rewards he and the team would get would be lowered as the council would send some people to stay nearby and protect him if necessary.
It was something a villain would rarely do as they were mostly greedy and arrogant, but Carl was neither.
"Hmmm, unfortunately, because of the time constraints, we will only be able to send 2 S-grade villains on time, the others are too far away, so they won't be able to make it."
"It is enough sir, thank you," Carl said before bowing and leaving.
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