Somewhere inside the Fortified Colony of Cambridge Bay, two black-suited men stood amidst an empty parking lot with a dark-tinted SUV perched beside them. These Jaegers were none other than Damien of Block 7 and Devon of Block 5.

"From the looks on your face, it seems that you have news... Bad news." Devon remarked while staring at Damien, who remained silent for a moment. The black-suited young man stepped forward and inquired in a whisper. "Ever heard of the Shadow Division?"

Hearing his words, the intelligence operator concealed any expression on his face and looked at Damien with a tinge of indifference. "Where did you hear of that?"

"I didn't hear any of it." Damien shook his head and leaned beside the front fender of the SUV. "I made contact with them just now. They attacked a village with a paramilitary force."

"Their equipment isn't that different from the SIGIL. Even these people have the same uniforms as us, so I'd like to ask a question. Are they traitors? If they are, how far up are we in the ladder?" He questioned while Devon stayed silent.

Sighing to himself, he took out an encrypted phone and muttered under his breath. "I have to call someone first and report the situation." The phone rang, and it was answered. Devon disclosed everything and relayed Damien's question afterward.

The encrypted call ended with Devon nodding in understanding and returning the phone to his pocket. He looked at the black-suited young man and answered the question. "The Shadow Division is a terrorist organization composed of former SIGIL operators."

"Some of their members belonged to other divisions of SIGIL, but most originated from a long-gone Block. It was Block 0, a combined-response force during the revolution against the Clan."

"If the Shadow Division is operating nearby, that would mean that the northern fringes are compromised and the Abominable Cult is not working alone. We have to withdraw before things escalate and report every intelligence we have to the SIGIL Headquarters."

When Damien heard Devon's words, he shook his head and uttered. "I am afraid not. The headquarters could also be compromised. The equipment of the paramilitary force under the Shadow Division belongs to the special forces of the SIGIL only."

"Which means that whoever is capable of smuggling that equipment out. It would have to be high up in the SIGIL hierarchy, leading to another question I asked. How far up are the traitors, Devon?"

His sable-tinted eyes looked directly at Devon, who lowered his head and sighed. "Block 5 has no idea about how far up they are. But we already confirmed that they might have already infiltrated senior management."

"And that isn't the highest right?" Damien remarked and continued. "The senior management was merely where the tracks ended."

"Unfortunately, yes... We lost contact with them a few months ago, so information about them operating in the northern fringes is important." Devon affirmed and opened the door of his dark-tinted SUV.

"We are being watched, Damien. I don't know who. They could be locals loyal to the Abominable or the damn Shadow Division themselves. You see... There's a difference in operating behind the enemy lines, and them knowing you are operating behind their lines."

"It is dangerous, and we are alone. We must withdraw from the area immediately." There was a reason why intelligence operators were known as slippery eels. They tend to smell danger and slip through its cracks, escaping capture.

"And how are you planning to get out? From what I know, when I made contact with the Shadow Division. They are thorough than most realize. A village burned because of it. Instead of withdrawing, we should stay together and handle the problem."

"Handle the problem?" Devon raised his eyebrows and questioned. He couldn't help but feel that he was about to be dragged into an audacious plan. Damien nodded and answered. "I have intelligence about where the primary sect of the Abominable could be."

"The Shadow Division should also be operating nearby it, so it's two eggs in one basket." He added, but Devon chuckled and squinted his gaze. "You're trying to fight them on your own? You know... We aren't simply fighting against humans here."

"We are against former Jaegers and possibly a Paragon. What can the three of us do against an army of traitors? The locals wouldn't even help us. Heck, they might assist the bastards from the Shadow Division." Devon reasoned, pointing out how much of a bad idea it was.

"I know... But we aren't alone." Damien stated as though it were a matter of fact. Devon looked at him for a moment before sighing once again. "Alright, what do you want me to do?"

"Get answers from the governor and ramp up the investigation. We don't have time." Damien understood that the connections of Abominable and Cambridge Bay didn't end with the local police department. It could be high up, and perhaps they would have vital information.

"Burning the bridge, huh? Okay, I understand. Give me time and I'll find answers as quick as possible." Devon nodded and was about to enter the dark-tinted SUV. But before he could step inside, gunshots rang out.

Out of nowhere, a couple of bandits emerged from the corner of the street, aboard a pick-up truck with a machine gun turret implanted on its back. They fired the machine gun in the direction of the two Jaegers, intending to execute them on the spot.

It would have worked if they were normal humans.

Feeling the bullets barely penetrate his clothing, Damien watched the group of shooters in the distance. It wasn't a random ambush, but a coordinated attack. Escape points were blocked while a vanguard force cornered them.

His sable-tinted gaze narrowed as he inquired with a calm tone. "Who are they? What faction do they belong to within the northern fringes?" On the other hand, Devon looked at the shooters and answered. "They are the mountain bandits who happened to have their headquarters situated inside the colony."

"It seems that whoever is behind this wants us dead." Damien's lips curled up into a smile before glancing at Devon. "You should go and start with interrogating the governor first. We might already be enemies of the locals here."

"So, take care." He understood the dangers of having ordinary people as enemies. Unlike the usual adversaries of soldiers or covert operatives, one would never know who the civilians were allied with. Whether it'd be third parties or themselves.

"You're planning on staying behind?" Devon raised his eyebrows while Damien nodded. "Someone has to clean up the mess. Besides, SIGIL does not tolerate bandit cells within our jurisdiction. I believe it's time to clean up the house."

The intelligence operator took a deep breath and closed the doors. His dark-tinted SUV roared as he sped off and broke through the loose barriers of the bandits. Damien watched him before turning his attention towards the bandits attacking him.

"You shouldn't have revealed yourselves early." He shook his head in disappointment and summoned one of his Terrestrial Monsters. In mere moments, a golden light glowed as a giant and grandiose lion materialized in thin air.

It was none other than his first-star TE Monster, the Nemean Lion.

The bandits widened their eyes, astounded as an aetheric beast appeared out of nowhere beside their target. Their bullets had no effect against anything as they were blocked with remarkable ease. The Hide of Aegis wasn't to be underestimated.

"Take care of them. Leave no one alive, except for their leader. I need him for information." Damien commanded as the giant and grandiose lion roared, charging towards the bandits while its mane waved.

The bandits kept firing at the aetheric beast, but it shrugged off their bullets with ease. They steadily withdraw; however, it was already too late for them. When the Nemean Lion reached them, it ravaged them within a couple of seconds.

None of them stood a chance as screams and cries echoed throughout the surrounding streets where the parking lot was situated. Damien watched with indifference and remarked. "Good job..."

The aetheric beast roared while standing beside the bandit leader, whose left arm was already bitten off. His face was tear-streaked as he looked at Damien as though he were staring at a monster.

"You don't look so good. But I'll have to ask you some questions, regardless..." The black-suited young man crouched in front of the kneeling bandit leader and continued. "Tell me... Where do you think your boss is?"

---

Meanwhile, somewhere within the state of Virginia of the Federation...

Inside the headquarters of the Block 5 SIGIL Division was the office of the organization's intelligence director. She was none other than the fifth Paragon, Jane Doe. Lounging within her comfy chair, she watched the evergreen forest behind her and took out an encrypted phone.

It rang for a moment before being accepted by someone.

"Your Aberrant has been causing trouble within the northern fringes, Alastair. It appears that he has made contact with the Abominable Cult and the Shadow Division. The SIGIL Headquarters has also been compromised."

On the other side of the encrypted phone was the office of the seventh Paragon situated within the looming tower of New Janus. Alastair's supple lips curled up into a smirk as she tilted her head and questioned. "Quite interesting, don't you think?"

"Now that the seventh Division has been established. It seems that the peace of the New World will be swallowed by a fairly... large storm. My subordinates can handle the north. Instead, we should focus on handling the headquarters."

"Don't you also think so, Jane Doe?" The gorgeous white-haired lady kept grinning while tapping her wooden desk with her pale finger.

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