Within the outskirts close to Atlas City was a base of operations which belonged to the TEMPUS group, making it their main headquarters for their operations. Currently, Altare was chatting with Zai who was the only one present due to the other members scouting out the United States. Moona had to return to Indonesia to handle other matters since she did help out, she also needed to find more information since it is possible they also have connections in the Eastern side of the world. 

Regis Altare was rather concerned with the recent developments, especially with what he had heard about Merryweather and this Hina person as well. Things aren't exactly going in their favour as they can't pinpoint where they could find their main base of operations. Both Zai and Altare were currently in the meeting room which has a large circular table where they hold most conferences and business dealings. Zai was sitting on a chair with his legs up on the table as Altare was pacing about.

Altare: "It still doesn't make any sense..."

Sonzai: "It's very much clear that they're covering their tracks. One of them has to mess up eventually."

Altare: "I'm aware of that Zai, however it wouldn't be that simple. What we seem to be dealing with at the moment is the robots that is being led by the supposed Shadow. They are programmed for things that prevent us from tracking them."

Sonzai: "Even if that were the case, they all link around Atlas City."

Altare: "That too, yet I don't believe that the Atlas Corporation is involved."

Sonzai: "How sure can you be about that?"

Altare: "I've done dealings with them under Yagoo's jurisdiction. If they were to backstab us, they would've done so a long time ago."

Zai honestly wasn't trusting that as he is aware of what Atlas Corporation has been doing behind most of Gunrun's operations and dealings. 

Sonzai: "Bullshit. They're doing illegal marketing by creating Artificial Intelligence that are combat ready. One flick of a switch, they can murder an entire population."

Altare then sighed as he looked at Zai.

Altare: "There's nothing I can do about that as we're under Yagoo's jurisdiction. There's nothing we can do to intervene in their operations or expose them without causing problems. It can lead to thousands of deaths, similar to you losing control all those years ago within that massacre."

Zai then stood up, aggravated almost immediately as he walked up to Altare's face, having an intimidating presence.

Sonzai: "Don't you dare mention this to my face again. Got it?"

Altare was sweating a little as he realized he pushed the wrong buttons as he calmed the situation down.

Altare: "I'm sorry, I said something that I shouldn't. But you get my point right?"

Zai then sighs as he takes a few steps back, understanding what Altare has said, but was still pissed off that he brought up the past.

Sonzai: "I get it. Just don't mention it again and we'll be fine."

Altare then nodded as they heard a beeping sound, which Altare recognized immediately. He walked up to the desk, pressing some buttons as a hologram of Josuiji Shinri appeared.

Altare: "Shinri. What news do you bring?"

Shinri: "It appears that everything connects to Atlas City limits."

Altare: "How so?"

Shinri: "From what we could gather, arranging from scraps that were left behind, combined with certain weaponry that is quite similar to Atlas tech... We suspect it to be somehow connected to Atlas."

Altare: "Well, Zai did inform me about that... Is there something else we need to know?"

Axel Syrios then appeared in the hologram as he spoke up.

Axel: "Well, it would seem that Atlas is looking for a runaway."

Sonzai: "A runaway?"

Axel: "Yes, a girl. We don't know much about her as her medical records seemed to have been wiped out from the public records."

Altare: "Seriously? How important is she and who is she?"

Axel: "Well, her name is Henya. Though when it came to importance, you could say she's the reason why most of Atlas Corporation was able to come up with ideas and blueprints for their tech."

Sonzai: "Relying on a girl?"

Shinri: "Unfortunately."

Altare: "How cruel... How did she escape?"

Axel: "We're not so sure. She managed to escape and ended up in hiding. So if there's anyone who'll be able to help us out, it would be her."

Shinri: "The issue is that she could be anywhere in the city at the moment. We only got a basic on how she looks because of her database."

Altare: "Send me the files and I'll have a look through them. If she is that important to Atlas, then she'll most likely be as important to the High Society. We can't let her fall into both of their hands, got it?"

Axel: "Understood. We're still in Atlas City securing things to make sure our speculations are correct."

Altare: "Keep up the good work then. What about the others?"

Shinri: "They're currently checking the main populated districts to make sure that Atlas isn't doing anything fishy."

Altare: "Alright, inform me more on the situation when you get the chance. Altare out."

Altare then closed the hologram as he sighed, clearly not liking the situation. Zai was able to pick up on this as he could agree, but not by much.

Sonzai: "So we're going to be looking for a girl now?"

Altare: "Seems like it. I know Atlas has been doing some shady things, but the fact that this all leans back to that corporation, we'll need more information. Zai, we need to inform Yagoo about the situation."

Sonzai: "I understand. He'll want to hear this."

Altare then pressed some buttons as he waited patiently for the hologram connection to go through. Soon enough on the other side, it was revealed to be Tanigo who was sitting by his desk and Enma standing by his side.

Tanigo: "Ah Altare. What have you found?"

Altare: "We've recently discovered some more information regarding to a possible lead."

Zai then spoke up next.

Sonzai: "Apparently it's a possibility that Atlas might be involved with the High Society. They're also looking for a particular runaway."

Tanigo: "A runaway?"

Altare: "Correct. It's a girl that goes by the name Henya. Her medical records are nowhere to be found and apparently she's the reason why Atlas was able to get their tech functioning."

Enma: "Using a young girl to do most of the work? Why would they do that?"

Tanigo: "They wouldn't be able to do something like that unless she is really smart. Do you have any leads on where she could be right now?"

Altare: "Unfortunately no. She might still be in Atlas City as we speak, though we'll be keeping an eye out for her for the time being."

Tanigo: "Then do so, we can't let her fall into the High Society's hands, nor Atlas."

Altare: "Does that give us the permission?"

Tanigo: "No. We still have business relations with that corporation. So if we break off and attempt to bring them down, there will be a possibility that they will expose us. We can't have that, so focus on finding this Henya and bring her back safely. If she's the key to learning everything we need to know, then we can move onwards with the operations."

Sonzai: "I apologize Yagoo, but are you still planning on involving Lukas?"

Tanigo was slightly thrown off by this question, though he kept a calm manner.

Tanigo: "What do you mean?"

Sonzai: "If the High Society is after the girl, then there's a possibility we could lure them out. I wouldn't go to that option yet and I don't want him involved at all. If he gets caught, then we'll be in big trouble, he ain't ready for this kind of thing."

Enma: "I'll have to agree with him on this Yagoo."

Tanigo: "I'm aware of that... Just focus on finding the girl and bring her to safety. We need as much information as we can before making a decision..."

Altare: "We understand Yagoo. We'll leave you be and focus on the mission. Altare out."

Altare then switched off the hologram as he began to walk away. 

Sonzai: "Where ya going?"

Altare: "I'm going to read up on the files. You can head to Atlas City so long since you tend to work better alone don't you?"

Zai honestly was taken aback from this due to the fact that in most of the recent occurrences, he wasn't able to work alone. Yet now Altare was allowing him to work alone, which honestly made him feel rather happy for once, but he knew that this is probably a one time thing. Yet he then remembered to a time which was a while back.

[Flashback]

When he was younger, roughly during when he was 16, he was training with Enma, helping her out on an assignment. They were sitting in a car as they were in traffic as Zai was incredibly bored. He ended up yawning as Enma slightly turned her gaze towards him.

Enma: "What's wrong now?"

Sonzai: "I'm so bored~"

Enma: "Well that is my job as a Manager. It is boring, but it's still the right thing to do."

Sonzai: "How can it be when all we do is drive around and make conferences?"

Enma: "It isn't about the conferences. It's about teamwork. Everyone you meet might become an ally or a friend someday and you'll have to work with them. You can't do everything alone."

Sonzai: "Why not? I'm pretty much the strongest mortal around~"

Enma: "That arrogant side of you will get you killed someday. What did I teach you about when it came to controlling your mental aspects?"

Zai then sighs as he repeats what he was taught.

Sonzai: "One should never be overconfident as it can lead to arrogance. Calm the mind by never underestimating or undermining those around you."

Enma: "Correct. Though I understand what you've been through, with your family and all, you need to understand that there are those who'll need to know the truth to understand you. You've been mentally blocking it, I get it, but sooner or later, it'll come up again. Your mental state is really important, because the more you hold it in, the more it'll eat you up. Also, when it comes to doing things alone, there'll be times where there's something you can't handle. You may be powerful, but there will be somebody or something that can best you. Whether you take my words to heart or not is up to you."

Zai then sighed again as he looked out the window, seeing the other cars as he just didn't like being lectured.

Sonzai: "Whatever..."

[Flashback End]

He will admit that she was right after all. Zai is really aware that he needs to keep his mind under control in order for him to keep control over his Chaos Magic since it does tend to mess with his mind. Yet he hasn't encountered a foe that could best him at his full potential as he has probably been training too hard. But then again, he doesn't care about that as he knows that whatever comes his way, he can face it alone. So he begins to make his way out of the base so he can get to Atlas City at a fast pace.

We then cut to Lukas Misaki who was currently in the Academy cafeteria as he was taking a bit of a break from helping Giri. He was mainly eating alone this time as he was drawing again, though this time he decided to draw a sketch of the open waters with a yacht, yet in the background would be the setting sun. He was getting slightly more confident with his drawing skills as well as he was slowly building up more positives about himself. 

Though his drawing was interrupted when Zaion LanZa and Doppio Dropscythe walked up to his table, standing there as Lukas stopped to look up at them.

Lukas: "Oh uh... Hey Dropscythe, Zaion... Did you need something?"

Zaion: "There's something we want to talk to you about."

Lukas: "Umm... Is it important?"

Dropscythe: "You could say it is."

Zaion: "Though we want to talk to you about it in private."

Zaion had a serious expression plastered on her face as she seemed rather determined for some form of answers. Though Lukas couldn't tell what she was thinking in the moment as he had a strange feeling that it ain't something good.

Lukas: "Then... can we talk about it after school..?"

Zaion: "We can definitely work with that, but you better come find us back here got it?"

Lukas: "Y-Yeah..."

Lukas was then left alone, though he found it quite odd....