Some time later, after personally checking several more facilities spread across New Camelot, and a big lunch alongside his friends and family, Arthur alongside Victoria arrived at the heart of C×C's operation, the command center.
The massive circular chamber has rows of elevated platforms held analysts, magicians, and tacticians, working together.
Floating screens displayed supernatural activities worldwide, and alerts from every corner of the world.
The moment Arthur stepped inside, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
"Commander on deck!"
Voices echoed out as personnel straightened in their seats or turned from their consoles.
Some bowed slightly, others placed a hand over their chest in formal acknowledgment.
Arthur raised one hand casually in response.
"At ease. Continue with your work."
"Yes, Commander!"
Victoria followed half a step behind him with her hands folded behind her back, while Arthur walked calmly, everyone present could feel the weight of authority he carried.
Arthur moved toward the center of the chamber where a massive three-dimensional hologram of the Earth rotated slowly above a circular dais, with small symbols blinked on and off as new data streamed in.
Arthur stopped near the projection and glanced toward a nearby operator.
"What's the current status of the world?"
The staff member straightened immediately.
"Yes, Commander. Reporting now."
With a gesture, several markers expanded on the hologram.
"First, North America. Multiple confirmed sightings of Greek deities along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Athena and Ares were both detected near Washington D.C. two days ago. They didn't engage in open conflict, but intelligence suggests they were meeting with someone, possibly a representative of another Faction."
The staff member continued.
"Second, Eastern Europe. Romania remains unstable. While the Tepes Faction is neutralized and Carmilla Faction is under the Corps' watch, several rogue vampire groups are still active in the countryside. They're avoiding direct confrontation and targeting isolated villages. Estimated numbers range from thirty to fifty individuals, possibly more if they're hiding progenitors."
Arthur studied the glowing red clusters over Romania.
"Deploy agents and assign a liaison for the Carmilla Faction. I want them captured or eliminated instatly. No survivors."
"Yes, sir."
Another symbol expanded near China.
"In China, supernatural activity has spiked in multiple locations. Hong Kong, in particular, is experiencing abnormal readings similar to large-scale activities. Monitoring is ongoing."
Arthur exhaled slowly.
"Keep surveillance for now. If the situation escalates, notify me immediately."
"Yes, Commander."
A marker flared over the Mediterranean.
"The Mediterranean Sea has reported several disappearances involving ships vanishing without distress signals. Magical residue suggests Ultimate-class entities are responsible for these disappearances."
Arthur's gaze sharpened.
"Notify nearby Corps agents and contact the nearby sea pantheons. If something urgent happens, I want it contained ASAP."
The staff member nodded rapidly, fingers already moving across his console.
"And finally, there have been rumors circulating through the supernatural world of a growing independent faction. They're recruiting Stray Devils, Rogue Fallen, and other races from multiple regions. Purpose unclear, but their activity is accelerating."
Arthur went silent for a moment as the hologram reflected faintly in his green eyes.
(So, the Khaos Brigade are starting to work, huh?)
He turned slightly, addressing the entire command floor.
"Maintain observation across all theaters. Do not engage this faction unless authorized. If something seems wrong, report it immediately. And remember, we, the Counter Corps, protect the innocent, and destroy the guilty. We act only when necessary."
A unified response echoed through the chamber.
"Yes, Commander!"
Arthur gave a small nod and stepped back from the hologram.
That was when a familiar male voice echoed calmly inside his mind.
(Arthur, come to the Clock Tower. I need you for a moment.)
Arthur didn't react outwardly, but his eyes shifted slightly.
(Understood, Georg. I'll be there.)
He turned back to the staff.
"Continue operations. I'll review updated reports later."
"Yes, Commander."
Arthur then glanced over his shoulder.
"Victoria. Let's go."
She straightened immediately.
"Yes, Master."
Without another word, she followed as Arthur exited the Command Center, and the doors sealed behind them, muffling the constant hum of activity within.
Arthur stopped briefly, raising his hand. A crimson magic circle bloomed beneath his and Victoria's feet.
In a flash of red light, they vanished.
DxD
Arthur and Victoria reappeared at the very center of New Camelot, standing at the base of the Clock Tower.
They entered the Clock Tower in silence, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone floors.
The interior felt different from the rest of New Camelot as they passed through a long corridor before stepping into an elevator.
The doors slid shut without a sound, and the elevator ascended smoothly, the faint ticking of unseen gears filling the enclosed space. Victoria stood straight beside Arthur, eyes forward, while Arthur remained calm.
When the elevator came to a stop, the doors opened to reveal a pair of regal double doors.
The moment Arthur stepped closer, the doors opened on their own, recognizing him.
Inside was Arthur's office.
His office table sat near the large open window, bookshelves lined the far walls, and to the left, a seating area held a long sofa and a low table absolutely buried in paperwork.
Georg was already there, sitting on the sofa, glasses low on his nose, surrounded by stacked documents and a tablet.
He looked up the moment Arthur entered and immediately stood.
"Arthur."
Georg said, setting the papers aside.
Arthur gave a small nod.
"Georg."
They clasped hands briefly in a firm handshake.
"My apologies for pulling you away. I know your schedule hasn't exactly been light lately."
Arthur waved it off.
"It's fine. If you called me here directly, it means it's important. What's the matter?"
Georg hesitated for half a second before speaking.
"This concerns only the main members of the Corps."
Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly, but he didn't question it.
He turned his head toward Victoria.
"Victoria, return to the mansion and check on Leonardo and make sure everything's in order."
"Yes, Master."
She straightened, gave Georg a brief nod of acknowledgment, and exited the office without another word. The doors closed behind her, sealing the room once more.
Arthur exhaled quietly and walked to his desk, sitting down in his chair as Georg moved closer.
"Alright. What seems to be the problem?"
Georg tapped the table and a projection flared to life between them.
Arthur's eyes narrowed as images and reports began cycling through the display.
In one of them is a clear image of a blond-haired, green-eyed male wearing an exorcist uniform.
"Almost a year ago, you sent him to investigate a string of mysterious deaths and incidents that may tied to an unknown faction."
Georg stated and a projection shifted, showing locations scattered across the globe, followed by images of corpses laid out on the scene.
"No visible wounds, no signs of struggle, no lingering energy residue. It was as if their life had simply… stopped."
Arthur leaned forward slightly, eyes scanning the data.
"There's seems to be a pattern."
Arthur muttered.
Georg looked at him and gave a slow nod.
"All of the victims are Sacred Gear users."
The projection changed again, displaying excerpts from Dulio's reports.
Arthur went silen after hearing that.
(Sacred Gears being forcefully extracted... Could it be him?)
Arthur read through them quickly, his expression tightening with every page.
"Dulio followed every lead he could. But each trail ended in a dead end. Whenever he managed to track down a suspect, they either vanished or killed themselves on the spot. And the disturbing part wasn't the spell itself... It was their conviction."
Another report appeared, highlighting the final testimony of a captured suspect.
Arthur read the words silently, then aloud.
"My king sends his regards, Dulio."
Arthur leaned back in his chair as a memory began to surface.
Almost a year ago, the C×C slwoly began its operations, he remembered sitting across from Dulio, explaining what he and Michael had discussed, explaining the individual that mattered most to Dulio.
Gilgamesh.
Dulio had gone silent then, which unsettled Arthur a bit but he understood.
The next day, Dulio had come to him again.
"I'll be gone for a while. I need to check on this myself."
Before he could leave, Arthur had made it an official mission for Dulio.
Since then, Dulio hadn't returned to Avalon even once, with only messages, calls, and brief check-ins that grew less frequent over time.
Arthur let out a slow breath and stood from his chair.
He walked to the corner of the room where a small table held an expensive, high-end coffee machine.
He began preparing an Americano with ease.
Without turning, he spoke.
"Coffee?"
Georg shook his head.
"No thanks. I'll stick with tea."
Arthur nodded, letting the machine work its magic.
"Someone is deliberately hunting Sacred Gear users. And they're organized."
Arthur said finally.
Georg's voice was grim.
"And whoever this 'king' is… they know Dulio by name."
Arthur chose to stay silent, not adding anymore to Georg's observation.
He picked up the cup, the aroma of coffee rising as he turned back toward the projection.
Arthur took a slow sip of his Americano, the bitterness grounding his thoughts just enough before he glanced at Georg again.
"By the way, how is Cao Cao doing?"
Arthur said casually, though his tone carried genuine curiosity.
Georg's expression softened slightly as he adjusted his glasses and turned a few pages of a thinner report stack beside him.
"You remember three months ago, when you sent him to Japan."
Arthur nodded.
"To look for strong recruits and establish an alliance with the Youkai Faction in Kyoto, yes."
"Correct. Cao Cao was… surprisingly effective."
Georg said.
A projection shifted above the table, now displaying images of Kyoto.
Ancient shrines, forested mountains, and the hidden districts where Youkai society thrived.
"During his time there, he assisted the Western Youkai Faction during a period of instability. Their new leader, Yasaka, had only recently taken over leadership."
Arthur's brow furrowed slightly.
"Yasaka, the Nine Tailed Fox Youkai?"
"Yes, but she is also known as the daughter of one of Japan's Big Three Monsters, Tamamo-no-Mae."
Georg confirmed, which surprised Arthur as he didn't know that piece of information from his past.
The projection changed again, showing Yasaka in ceremonial robes, her nine golden tails fanned behind her.
"Cao Cao aided her faction against multiple hostile groups, rivaling clans, and elder Youkai attempting to test her authority. His actions earned him recognition within Kyoto's supernatural community and allowed us to establish formal connections with the Youkai."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"But not all of them were pleased, I assume."
Georg gave a thin smile.
"As you've guessed."
Arthur leaned forward, skimming the next report Georg has given.
His eyes widened just slightly as he read further.
"…What the fuck?"
Arthur muttered under his breath.
Georg continued.
"Some time ago, a leader of a small rogue Youkai organization attempted to exploit Yasaka's position."
Arthur's gaze hardened.
"They used a powerful aphrodisiac, one specifically designed to affect an Ultimate-Class Nine Tailed Fox Youkai. It would have forced her into an intense heat state. Their plan was for their leader violate her, sire a child, and then use that bloodline to insert themselves into the leadership of the Western Youkai Faction."
Silence settled heavily in the room.
Arthur's jaw clenched.
"And Cao Cao."
"Fortunately, he discovered something was amiss. And before the act could be carried out, he intervened immediately, apprehended the leader, and exposed the organization."
The projection displayed images of captured Youkai, bound in restraints.
"The following day, the entire rogue group was uprooted and dismantled. Cao Cao personally led the operation."
Arthur leaned back slowly, exhaling through his nose.
"That explains the happy smiles on the populace's faces."
Arthur said, glancing at another image of the report.
"Yes. Kyoto began referring Cao Cao as the Hero of Kyoto shortly afterward."
Georg replied.
Arthur let out a short, humorless breath.
(Heh, how ironic. In the original story, Cao Cao terrorized the Youkai Faction and turn Yasaka into a puppet for his plans, but now he is hailed as a hero and even saved Yasaka from a gruesome fate. But, wait. Does that mean Kunou doesnt exist anymore? Man, that kinda sucks.)
He was interrupted when Georg cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses again.
"That reminds me, here's another reason I called you here."
He reached into his coat and produced a sealed letter, placing it gently on Arthur's desk.
Arthur frowned slightly but took it.
He broke the seal and unfolded the paper.
"Hmm? This is Cao Cao's handwriting."
He began reading.
"..."
The room grew quiet as he read the letter.
Arthur's expression slowly changed when he finished, he set the letter down carefully.
His eyes drifted to the holographic table, where the image of Cao Cao stood there smiling.
Beside him was Yasaka, her expression bright as she spoke to him.
Arthur stared at the image for a long moment.
"What did the letter said?"
Georg asked, intrigued.
Arthur then back at Georg.
"Cao Cao knocked up Yasaka."
DxD
Hello readers!
Here's another one, so... yeah.
If this fanfic lands 100 Power Stones before 2026, you'll earn my respect!
Thank you, everyone, and see you later!