Having dealt with the local authorities, Auren turns towards his friends.
I can't worry about them... however, I need to do my best to minimise the risk, yet still come up with a strategy that works. We can't walk around as four, that's just too obvious.
"You stay grouped up. This is an order," Auren announces. "Vanessa, your Hatsu is useless in a one-on-one fight. Eren and Neffi, your Hatsus are versatile, but not strong enough to beat a truly skilled Nen user. They are not decisive enough. You can combine your Hatsus to zone in and trap an enemy to give Vanessa an opening to charge up a strong Meteor-Fist. I'll come to your aid when I notice Vanessa's Hatsu, so only use it when you actually find an invader. Thankfully, it also acts as a decent marker, so I should be able to notice you immediately. If I require help and can afford to act, I'll use Heavy Rain—you now know what it looks like, so pay attention to the sky."
"Okay," Eren says, trying to remain calm and composed.
"Fine... but be careful," Neffi replies, looking worried.
Vanessa, while looking disappointed in herself, does not say anything, as she keeps staring into the sky.
With nothing left to say, Auren swiftly disappears, rushing towards the northern part of the rising city.
As he reaches the end of the future port metropolis, Auren activates En, a large cloud forming around him, pulsating, expanding, and contracting, as if truly alive. As if influenced by his own emotions, the Aura cloud contracts faster than usual, and the Aura feels tense and dark, heavily sinking towards the ground like slime being pressed down by gravity alone. It barely covers a height of more than thirty metres, in exchange for covering an exceedingly broad area.
Auren immediately feels hundreds of Auras around him.
The most likely people accepting a mission such as this would be capable Nen users. It could be Hunters, but it could also be amateurs. Maybe also people working for a particular state. In any case, I estimate the chances that the spies are Nen users to be quite high. I'd say around 70%... no, it's at least 80% that some of them are skilled Nen users.
So it's quite simple who I have to pay attention to.
Anyone with a strong Aura is suspicious. Even more suspicious are people who don't have any Aura. It's difficult with so many people surrounding me, but I have trained for this exact situation in Hollow Blade. That densely populated Mountain City is in no means easier to cover with En—while still paying attention to hundreds of people. I can do this. Anyway, these are the two signs I need to pay attention to. People actively hiding themselves with Zetsu, and people with a noteworthy and strong Aura. Though there are valid reasons to use Zetsu, like training, and we have skilled Nen users who can perform a solid Ten, these are the only clues I have. I need to make the best of what I'm currently working with.
Auren immediately notices a few strong Auras grouped together, and he carefully makes his way towards them.
Five armed soldiers, wearing the highest grade armour provided by Neffi's company and carrying a few custom weapons, like a spear, an axe, a shovel, a large customized rifle, as well as a monstrous-looking shotgun, are talking with each other, pointing towards different buildings, clearly worried and stressed. As they see Auren, they salute tensely.
"Greetings, Vice-Leader."
Not suspicious. They are doing their job and taking things seriously... These are our elite soldiers who are also Nen users. That's why they immediately recognize me. I like them....
"Good job," Auren says, nodding at them. "If you spot something out of the ordinary, immediately report it to your superior and make yourself known to me, however you can. Fire your guns into the air for all I care, just... avoid the airship, okay?"
"Yes, Vice-Leader!" they reply in unison.
Auren continues his search. He notices that someone is performing Zetsu inside a building, spotting a vaguely human-shaped object without any Aura. Approaching it, he forcefully knocks, only for an elderly man to open the door after a brief delay, taking his time before finally showing himself.
"Hello... oh... you must be... Vice-Leader! I've seen the children draw you and the pictures from your little fan club run by the cafeteria ladies. Why, this is an honor. Why are you visiting this old man's residence? Shall I serve you a tea? I've received some great leaves from the Empir—"
What the?! Pictures? Cafeteria ladies?
"Sorry, just a routine control," Auren interrupts him, getting annoyed. "Please resume your training, I need to go."
... I was naive. There are too many decent Nen users and people practicing Zetsu nearby. Hollow Blade is clearly the exception... Nen is part of the larger strategy we are employing—of course, there will be people fitting my hasty description. Still, I need to try... or... maybe I should rethink my strategy. What else can I go by? Is there any clue?
No... I just need to keep trying. Looking for a shortcut is not always the best solution.
Auren, moving from his position in the north, slowly moves southwards, inspecting people left and right, not letting himself get careless.
Having almost lost his hope, he spots another three formidable Auras.
More elite soldiers?
Jumping over the container roofs, he swiftly approaches them and jumps downwards, landing right in front of them, making no attempt to hide his presence.
He immediately notices the typical armor and the standard rifles the soldiers are using and relaxes.
Another failure....
Sighing loudly, Auren looks visibly annoyed, his strategy seemingly ineffective, at least so far.
Wait... rifles? Standard armor?
"What's wrong there, lad? Having a bad day? A young kid like you should stay more positive. You have your whole life in front of you, after all," a tall, well-built, middle-aged soldier says, his face and head covered by his helmet. Despite the current time, as the sun is already completely gone, the man is wearing a pair of round sunglasses.
Lad? Young kid?
"Hehe," Auren snickers. "I think my evening just got a little sweeter. I think I need to take a little break, and you guys seem to be doing the same. You see, I was dealing with a little problem that caused me a lot of trouble... but sometimes you just need to remain calm, and the problem solves itself, you know what I'm talking about?"
"I'm not sure I do, but as long as you're satisfied, I'll dedicate my first glass to you tonight," the soldier replies, laughing heartily.
Drinking? During this situation? It couldn't be more obvious.
Auren smiles, carefully inspecting the soldier. While he is openly carrying a rifle, he has a long staff-like object tied to his back, wrapped in a sort of blanket. One end is noticeably thicker, with a round head, while the other end gets quite thin. His two comrades are noticeably silent and have no discernible features, as the soldier's uniform, especially the helmet, serves as an effective disguise. However, Auren notices that there is a blanket over one soldier's left arm, completely covering it up, hiding whatever lies beneath.
A soldier calling me a lad, laughing at me despite the situation, refusing to work properly, and even openly talking about drinking... and carrying an object like that... yeah right. Add to that two followers, who act subservient, like they're following their leader or boss.
Not only do I know who the spy is, but I also have a strong feeling I know who his two partners are.
Now... how to best deal with them?
Do I kill them... no. I disagree with that. It would also work against my interests. Even if they didn't report their findings yet, their disappearance would arouse more suspicion and will only lead to more 'visitors' later down the line—probably worse ones... as in Zodiac, worse ones. The only Hunters arguably above our visitor.
"You look like you are in deep thought there, my young friend," the soldier says. "Do you need more advice?"
"No, no. I'm just glad that you people are lazing around as well, or I might have gotten in trouble," Auren says, yawning. "You see, we are on the lookout for someone, but he could be anywhere by now, and it's dark already... it's pretty much pointless to look for that person. Anyway, I'd better walk one more round before I find myself a cosy spot to take a nap. I suggest you at least pretend like you're doing your job."
"Hehe, my young friend," the soldier replies. "You might be onto something. Listen closely, as someone far wiser and more experienced will share a piece of knowledge with you. Life is too short to spend it on boring and demeaning tasks. You need to live for yourself, you hear me?!"
"Yes," Auren replies. "Thank you. I wish I could offer some profound advice as well, but I'm afraid I can't think of anything. I'll see you around."
He then walks away, but stops after a few steps, turning around. "One thing. I heard today's weather will take a turn for the worse. You might want to seek shelter somewhere."
Immediately afterwards, he turns back and walks away from the three.
"Weird kid. There is not a single cloud in the sky. It's just the clear night sky and the bright moon," the soldier mutters, barely audible.
Walking away, out of sight, Auren uses Zetsu and jumps back onto a nearby building. Switching to Ren, hiding his Aura with In, Auren focuses his Aura onto his hands once again.
A moment later, he fires the hidden Aura into the sky. Immediately, thanks to the nearby ocean, a dark cloud begins to materialise in the sky just above them, blocking the moonlight, darkening the street below where the three soldiers are standing.
Heavy Rain!
In the next moment, a concentrated rain shower is unleashed right at their location, dousing them with unnaturally large and fast raindrops that appear out of nowhere.
Now...
In the next moment, Auren uses Hiding in Mist and creates a thick fog in the street below, the heavy downpour making it incredibly easy for him to create the fog, increasing its density and size, allowing him to stealthily approach his targets.
With the fog acting like En, Auren locks onto their positions as he jumps from building to building, until he is directly above them.
They are keeping their cool. Exactly what I expected them to do... they are no amateurs, after all.
Auren decides to jump down from the building and speedily approaches the three soldiers.
"Hmph, not bad," he hears a grumpy voice—the same voice belonging to that soldier. "I didn't expect something on this level at all."
Sensing through the fog that acts like En, Auren notices that the soldier he talked with just drops his rifle onto the ground and grabs the large object on his back, holding it right in front of him before lifting the thin end directly to his mouth.
Just a few seconds later, Auren suddenly loses his senses in the area where the soldiers are standing—his fog getting pushed back.
What is happening?! What do I do? No time for hesitation.
Auren snaps his fingers, and his fog disappears, drifting outwards, away from his own position.
Now with better vision, the heavy downpour is falling straight onto a large cylindrical barrier made out of smoke, surrounding the position where the three soldiers previously stood.
Smoky Jail...!
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