Shit…that was so close… ~Steela

I know right? Think they bought it? ~Amber

Ah, welcome back, you slackers ~BossAlpha

Hey! Not fair we covered for all. I'm just glad no one shot at us… ~KaiTheAwesome

Yeah, Griffin is still raging girls. You should hide in the forest tonight and skip classes ~Emlyn

I am so glad we can't get more stable duties than we already have… ~More-Cury

You're not the only one in hiding. Master Aithlin's pissed at Votzaak. Abducting you like that ~?Elf1

Ha! You are just too obvious guys. Chaos Squad stayed clear ~ChaosLord

YOU! …You were supposed to be there! Stay clear, my ass! You bolted on us! ~Roar

I would never… Glad to know we built the swords right, though. Useful little gadgets :P ~ChaosLord

Yeah, how did you manage to stay off the radar? You even hit the damn targets! ~DisasterDean

You do know you can install an auto-aim, right? Memphis showed us. ~GoldyLocks

A what? ~Snow

You didn't… into the hilt? Those suck you only can program for one distance… ~BladeMaster

The small ones? Well with an unmoving stationary target, that would work… ~Marble

Since when do you know about weapon systems? ~Dusk

Oh, we had a coding contest to file, sort and compare weapons for the Zenith Council Office ~Marble

Oh, yes, we did. And you lost big time, you're way too slow ~#AAdmin

Next time I'll win, just you wait Amal! ~Marble

Of course, he won, was that ever in doubt? At least you were faster than me, Marble ~BladeMaster

That's not hard... You're a snail! Wait, why is the chat still named Denied? ~Marble

Please don't ~?Elf1

'Chatroom was renamed: ElfGeneralIsScary'

Ahahahaha, was it that bad in the Hunter prison? And denied! ~Zena

Yes, definitely denied! If Palladium finds out we are six feet under…well twelve… ~Nebula

More like twenty! I thought he would never stop scolding us… ~MichaelShotTheSherriff

'Chatroom was renamed: denied'

Can't you finally agree on something? You changed the name like 482 times~BossAlpha

That's oddly specific number… ~Marble

I wrote a bot to count it for them~#AAdmin

Forget the counter. How can you have an emblem yet no name? It's nearly two months ~?Elf7

'Chatroom was renamed: AnnoyedElves'

Ahahaha ~Nebula

DENIED! ~Misery

You better scratch that… ~BossAlpha

'Chatroom was renamed: denied'

This is ridiculous ~?Elf4

'Chatroom was renamed: PickANameAlready!'

You agreed on an emblem. Yet, still, didn't manage to find a name? Pathetic ~BossOmega

Indeed, we still need an operation name and the opp is nearly over ~BossAlpha

Never had anything that lasted longer than two seconds? Literally ANYTHING ~?Elf9

Denied ~Kitty

Denied was most ~Snow

Denied ~BossMan

Denied was longest in use ~Roar

Denied indeed survived longest ~Zena

…

The whole chat answered within seconds. It was after all the most used placeholder. Since everything so far had only been jokes or horrible names.

Well, it's decided. Finally, we can name this Operation. ~BossAlpha

'Chatroom was renamed: Denied'

What? ~FreeWin

Oh boy… but that…hmmm ~Avanger

NOOO! We need a good name because of the emblem tag team's stuff! ~Dahlia

Then why not use THE Denied? ~FinisheTHEM

We got denied long enough, sounds only fair to turn it on them ~Gilliana

No longer Sorceresses should be denied their rightful place in the Kingdoms! ~LostCrown

We are a coalition and deny sorceressism! That totally works! ~Tasu

Uhhhh, if we help each other and protect one of us we can go…YOU GOT DENIED! ~ Dusk

Sounds like that Court thingy from the judges… Awesome, that'll piss them off ~Kitty

Well, well, they always say that you guys should improve etiquette, ahahaha ~Blademaster

Well then…no one will DENIE us our Victory! ~#AAdmin

'Chatroom was renamed: THE Denied'

The chat exploded with all kinds of catchphrases the kids spouted around in high enthusiasm. Master Nerrocean looked up to Ioals and some of his team. "See, I told ya with the right incentive we would win the bet. They stayed under four hundred-ninty renames. There will be a lot who have to pay up now." He laughed out loud wholeheartedly.

"True…if they don't call us out for cheating…" Iolas added on a side note.

"Not our problem if they leave the chat unattended at such a critical time," Virion smirked.

"The Denied… suits them. Elders will deny them a lot of shenanigans…" Ararel snorted.

Nerrocean stared at him piercingly, "Don't you dare write that in chat. We'll lose the bet. That's an ORDER." He was dead serious. "But yeah, Council will have a keen eye on that student force for sure. They are all troublemakers."

Iolas chuckled, "At least we can DENY them their stupidity all at once now."

"Indeed, much more manageable now," Nerrocean smirked, "Well, then my secretary, hop, hop, to work. There are a lot of forms and reports waiting for their operation name to be filled in. I would help but… I got that one thing, I really need to take care of. Soooo, see ya." The merman slithered out of his office.

"That snake…" Iolas growled as the door closed. "I wonder where he is always running off to… He is up to something on top of everything. I'm sure of it. Even he wouldn't dump so much work on me just for some giggles and punishment…I think…"

Ararel sighed, "Who knows? Snake is the prodigy of the Gremlin. I wouldn't put it past him. Let's just get all that paperwork done. Luckily he finally cleared us to help you out."

"…" Iolas ground his teeth, "This is getting on my nerves…" He admitted as another bait had failed yet again. They had tried all sorts of things yet, nothing. They were running out of ideas and out fo time.

Virion sighed deeply, "Iolas calm down. Ever since you let Grandmaster Votzaak rile you up at Cloud Tower you…"

Iolas glared at him, "Oh, come on as if you were any less pissed!" He let his staff vanish before he would forget himself and simply bombard that asshole. "At this rate we prove him to be a saint rather than the creepy and disgusting monster he is."

Ararael moved in between Iolas's line of sight to Officer Clayton, "We are pissed, yes. But you, my friend, are going nuts over this." He crossed his arms. "Just maybe you should sit this one out…"

"Oh really? And how is that going to help anyone? This whole operation started because of Blade because they wanted to catch that son of a - and yet that weasel isn't doing ANYTHING. He's not even handing out a false parking ticket. By the Great Draong, he is picture book perfect, he should win an award for all the amazing ways he solved the baits we tried to get him with. If I didn't know any better I'd say the kids were mistaken. WHICH THEY ARE NOT. We know he is a predator and he grasps at chances, he shouldn't have that kind of self-control AT ALL." Iolas balled his fists.

Zhoron looked to his superiors and linked up, but left Iolas out, 'Guys… he's – I can sense his deep emotions without even trying… Is he alright? He's not just simply pissed.'

'I know, that kid, Blade… This is personal for him, she was his subordinate even if for just a week before all this operation stuff, not to mention the Stella hiccup. And as Votzaak pointed out, oh so bluntly, if he hadn't called back the newbie that tailed her on his command so early, just let him follow her till Blade actually had reached Alfea… well, we wouldn't stand here now. He still sees it as his fault, when it isn't,' Ararel elaborated he as his Co-Leader had had many talks with him over these past weeks about it.

'Hmmm,' Virion looked to Iolas who stared at them unamused, 'There's only one thing that'll help him then…'

"Done with talking behind my back?" Iolas growled displeased he knew his squad all too well. Yet he relaxed as he shook his head, "Sorry, that was uncalled for. I know, I know, but quite frankly if we don't nail this guy… All the Sorceresses might see is that when it counts law can't archive anything. This is the one guy we truly need to catch besides Curtis, but Vulcano's stunt already sorted that out… foolish girl. She could have…different topic. But, don't you see we'll have more like that chaos on our hands if not street wars? They'll not just stand and watch Clayton get away with it. I can promise you that," Iolas was so tense, he was searching for a way to solve this before it became a problem, a big one.

Ilrune landed on the rooftop with the others from the squad they had followed Clayton just a while longer but there was no real point to it. "Thanks for the effort," he nodded to the Black Magic Hunter Division Sorceresses shortly, who were on their way to their next assignment. "You still look like shit, Iolas, you need to meditate and sleep more." Ilrune bluntly stated. "We'll get him, somehow," Ilrune ground his teeth annoyed.

Tolith stared at the ground, "And what if…well… I know we kept the rules with no one personally involved. But Curtis was a saint till Vulcona poked the bear. Maybe Clayton will snap too if we give him the right incentive…" The Paladin spoke what all of them had dreaded and wanted to avoid at all costs.

Daeleth scratched his neck, "I'm not sure if Blade should confront him… she just became stable, this operation is giving her the relief and focus she desperately needs. And I know she can keep calm, yet… if she, well, she isn't as fast as us by any means – still, that might become a close call not to mention that she might just find a tactic that would get her her revenge in blood. I don't know her well enough. But if we go that route, can we even secure that Clayton would get out alive?"

Sarlen disagreed heavily, "She wouldn't kill him. If they wanted that we already would have Cloud Tower versus the rest of the world. They truly want to change something, this isn't just a phase."

Eroan stretched his arms even for the Elves this operation had been exhausting, they used limited resources after all to fly under the Councils radar and avoid rumors, "Not yet. But if she gets denied justice after all that effort and even if she doesn't attack him, others might."

Haldir didn't like it at all, "Great. So, next few weeks or months we'll have to safeguard a paedophile. Wonderful. If we get handed that mission. Do say no or I'll smack that guy against a wall, I can promise you that." Haldir grumbled vexed.

"We're not executioners," Ararel admonished him straight away, "We're Council guards. We'll do as ordered."

"We're not traitors either, those kids trust us. I agree with Haldir," Keryth closed the gap to Haldir.

"Yeah," Tolith agreed wholeheartedly, "Those kids easily could have done a hundred things to that guy or all of those slime bags, start a war and whatnot. They didn't. They despite the fact that Witc-Sorceresses never worked together with law enforcement at that age did everything in their power to do it the right way. I'll never repay that by backstabbing them, even if ordered." He crossed his arms.

"You can't be seriously thinking that!" Thallan was lost for words and even more shocked that he felt the same, "If we are that close to this we should resign this instant, this is unprofessional, or at least hand this assignment over to someone else! We are not mercenaries. We have guarded many criminals even lost friends on those missions. Are you all going insane?"

"Insane? You are insane if you think I'll help such an asshole. We normally guarded fleabags so they get to Court and don't die beforehand. Not so they can feel all high and mighty because no one can touch them!" Tolith hissed at Thallan, "I won't arrest any student, they are in the right here, not Officer Clayton. I know you feel the same don't pretend that-" All the squad members erupted into a heated discussion of what was right or not.

The whole operation was pressed for time. It hadn't stayed completely unnoticed that Elves were running around in the city in greater numbers and had students with them. Even with the barriers other Orders had spotted them or the magical sources and with the passing time more and more rumours were spread and eventually reached Councillors. With the noisy once Councillor Nerrocean had used the excuse that the Council guard oversaw the preliminaries for the joined study track. Or straight out got Court orders so other Councillors would keep shut to get ahead of things. Once word would get out or someone outside the force would figure it out and spread the word, catching more Officers would be impossible.

A shrill whistle interrupted them all. Iolas looked everyone in the eyes, "ENOUGH. We are Council guards." He was dead serious. "Yes, we are close to this- ALL OF US, don't avoid that fact or play it down. If you need guidance with this I or Ararel will help you out." He breathed in deeply, "My apologies, Clayton - he really ticks me off. Don't see or use that as an excuse to fail where I fail. I know you all to be better than that. I'll do better." Everyone calmed down a bit. "Arguing won't change anything, we gotta stick together and find a solution. And yes, the kids will retaliate somehow if he walks off a free man from all of this. Even if the kids have not realised it yet or even think about it. Or can even imagen going down such a road. We as their elders and team leaders got to protect them from that mistake. We got to find a way." Iolas addressed them sternly, yet he had no answer on how to solve their problem. "And of course, I'll decline any job to protect Clayton from the wrath of the students if we fail to nail him. We could do it with no problem I know we are professional enough, and so do you. But we are people too. We train so we keep emotions under control. We still have them, and it's fine to vent. And we can do so as much and as hard as we want to as long as it doesn't affect our work ethics." Iolas looked to Ararel for help, but the team still was rattled and upset.

Ararel cleared his throat and softly spoke, "Guys, this is different, don't lie to yourselves. We're not talking about Black magic, criminals or some squabbling nobles. Officer Clayton attacked a kid. He attacked Blade and who knows how many others. This isn't just another job, this is different. We all either have kids or nieces and nephews. Just the thought that someone could do that to-" He stopped. "Quite frankly even with my hundreds of years, I wasn't even close to a situation like this. Officer Clayton is supposed to be our ally, he wears a uniform that advocates peace, protection and justice just like ours. And we all know how much pain and suffering Blade had endured because she believed in that uniform. And we have one as well. These kids trust us, they trust our uniform… we already failed them all these years before. Because we didn't know, we didn't dig deep enough to uncover the scale of this earlier. We were blind to this injustice and there is no excuse for that."

Thallan protested a bit, "It's not solely our fault, the Sorceresses, Headmaster Griffin… literally anyone should have opened their damn mouths. Just like our kids did. We can't be everywhere at once. Not even the Hunter Division members… they got Witches! They know! They had to! All this hurt that injustice, we could have done something centuries ago."

"Really? We all know that Witches are not in the brightest spotlight," Keryth rolled his eyes, "We ignored it!"

"It's unlike you goldy locks to fight like this," Nerrocean decloaked right next to Keryth all of a sudden. None of them had noticed him and everyone flinched and jumped into attack mode just for a second.

"Master Nerrocean," Iolas blinked perplexed. "Since when…why are you here?"

"Oh, I just had something to take care of," Nerrcoean smirked, "And I watched since, well, long enough. You are looking at this all wrong, my little busy Elves.

Dark magic wasn't just frowned upon all through history. There were different times as well, during the Kingdom wars Dark magic was highly regarded. And even today, a towns Witch in the outskirts of a planet still is adored by its citizen. The closer you get to the capitals the more you'll hear the disregarding comments towards Dark magic. Noble houses are dominated by Light magic after all. The Council constantly tries and did improve the living standards of Witches from the start. The Council always sought peace, the old treaties prove that. Yet there were enough Witches who couldn't forget the acts of kings long past and on top of that there were enough black sheep amongst the Witches that tarnished the efforts of the righteous one. And the flow of time didn't help at all, today it's hard to believe that Witches are on your side, when every decade or so they truly bring calamity. Black magic users know that Witches are easy prey since often they are alone in the fight against the world and injustice.

The Trix proved it and they were already a trio and not lone wolves." Nerrocean paused as he looked over the rooftop. "Witches carry as much hate for nobility as does nobility for them. They are all prejudiced. Grandmaster Votzaak went on a few history hunts in his lifetime. He said that at some point in history especially before the Council was founded there were more Dark magic users than Light magic users in the Royal houses. At some point some of the Dark magic users had enough of the demands of self-righteous kings and that broke alliances apart, long-standing once. A few banded together and called themselves Witches – They 'bewitched' princesses and nobles. Broke them free from a life of nobility. They promised freedom. Just to let them die deaths more horrific than anyone could imagen. Witches are a scourge to be purged – They turned their enemies' words against them making it a title they proudly wore as a badge of honour. They pride themselves to this day on it. Witches unlike Paladins, like me, or Wizards were the hardest opposition to royalty throughout history and still are. It's part of their codex no matter where the Witch comes from. I can promise you that. We have plenty in our Order from all over. It's ingrained in them from generation to generation. The Council or you didn't ignore the problem. It's simply a fact of history that hostilities flare up and ebb down ever since those treaties got broken. Witches make enemies quick, powerful ones and they don't care about repercussions. They do what needs to be done.

One could say the last millennia were somewhat peaceful until Domino's fall that is. Of course, there were other threats but nothing like the old wars. Everyone searches inwards in peace times. And for Witches that means hiding away from the world get stronger, teach the next generation until they are needed once more. They isolate unless they join an order and not many do that. Witches distrust hierarchies. You can't help a patient that doesn't ask for help. There were enough there who had an eye on it all through history the Orders proved it. Those who tried gave up eventually or broke apart bickering about how to do it. Nothing lasted. It always came down to the point that both sides see each other as black and white and as long as it stays that way, there won't be any reconciliation. The students might actually make it work for once, but even with those numbers… it will only lead to a small change unless it catches on. Still, the Council wholeheartedly will always support such small movements where ever it can."

"So, it's the same thing as always, as long as people are fixated on the past which can't be changed, they can't work on a future, not truly," Ararel breathed out. "It always falters at being able to forgive."

"Yes, because people don't understand that to forgive doesn't mean to forget and pretend it never happened. It's simply to move past the hate and hurt and create a new beginning," Iolas sighed, "I'm not sure those kids can forgive though if we don't catch Clayton. I'm not even sure I could forgive myself if we fail. It's history repeating itself over and over."

"Yes, sadly you are right. We might lose them all to bitterness. Wouldn't be the first time I lose students. Many enter the Order and leave eventually, just for me to find them dead or corrupted, Witches die for their causes, they are all or nothing, a weakness alone and a strength when in numbers. Well…since we are running out of time. And I rather not see them DENIED. Get Blade's friends involved for Clayton maybe we indeed can trigger him. Not her though, she's too close," Master Nerrocean noticed his bracelet blink. "Ahh, shit…well then don't give up on justice, if we can't stick to it, how will they?" Nerrocean breathed out that Iolas and his squad truly were concerned. Nerrocean pulled out some money and chucked it over to Iolas, "There, get some ice cream. Can't have your brats mope all the time. So, kiss and make up already, fighting doesn't suit you guys. We'll get him. We will, don't worry about tomorrow when today's not over yet." He slithered by Iolas with lightning speed pull Iolas's helmet down before he camouflaged again and vanished from sight.

Amal checked the endless logs from the phones they had bugged. 'Holy electron, what am I looking at here…' He stood up from his console, "Lord Calculus, I got to step out and discuss something with Councillor Nerrocean."

The Lord smiled at him, "Alright, our esteemed Councillor of Magix is really taking advantage of you, isn't he? Councillor Votzaak shouldn't have lent you out like a book. What is he up to anyways? You worked so many extra hours."

"Oh, eh, well – he needs my programming skills m-m-mainly and I help with some p-p-paperwork. That's all," Amal answered a bit reluctantly.

"Since when does the Councillor of Magix have that much paperwork? His desk should be empty." Lord Calculus leaned back in his chair as his intern looked a tiny bit confused or nervous, "Amal, everything goes through the assemblies since Magix is the Council's planet. All political affairs are already decided in those assemblies, he simply has to sign them at the end. There is nothing left for him to do afterwards, that's why all agreed easily on Councillor Nerrocean to take the seat. He is from the Black Magic Hunter Division so he isn't gullible or one to fall for bribes and if necessary he can easily protect and act in the defence of Magix. The seat doesn't require time besides sitting in some meetings and nodding. So, he can follow his duties as Master of his Order."

"O-o-Okay?" Amal uttered now more confused than nervous.

Lord Calculus sighed, "Theoretically he has more power, but no one used it since centuries in that seat. IT creates a lot of backfires quickly as you have to please EVERYONE and not just one kingdom. If you want to keep quite something big, don't mention the Councillor's name in the same sentence about a lot of work. Good luck, with whatever it is. Use Votzaak's name he always runs from his duties no one will bat an eye if you run around for him. BUT you should know that already, be a bit more subtle, okay? I don't want to hear complaints that you messed up. This really could help your standing," Lord Calculus nodded to the door.

"R-r-right," Amal nodded quickly and rushed off.

Blade and Breeze were in Magix city together they had trained Blade's wind magic bursts with her ancient hilt and now were up for a snack.

"You owe me…" Breeze yawned deeply as she rubbed her eyes.

Blade stretched her shoulder stung a bit, "I know, I know… but we don't do battle class anymore and that's the one class I truly somehow should, well, I need to get a good grade. Last year I barely past midterms and in the end exam, I was still struggling a lot because of my smaller magic pool." Blade was so concerned.

"You won't struggle, come on, after all, you lived through this year. You could beat them even without an ounce of magic. I'm sure, besides you already have Charmix like most of your class," Breeze shook her head as her grey coat waded in the wind.

Blade laughed, "Only I, Nebula, Rise and Birdy managed to unlock it so far. It's not even half the class."

"SOOO, you'll be in the top four, easy," Breeze rolled her eyes.

"I wish, with my Charmix I'm on their Winx level. It's barely a catch-up for m-" Blade jumped backwards as a magic sphere hit the ground before her.

"Wind cutter!" Breeze directly returned fire.

"Oh, how pitty full," superiorly the witch between her twenties and thirties inspected her nails behind her shield before she balled her hands into a fist and dark magic flickered up, "Begon you queasy whiff!" She reached out to unload her magic bean.

"Pierce!" Blade yanked down her hand. But her spear only cracked the shield to her dissatisfaction, 'Shit…my concentration…grrr, too tired.'

Yet the Witch seemed a bit spooked by it, "Try that again and you'll both regret it!" She landed on the ground and stampeded towards Blade. "Stay out of this whiff. This is between me and her. OR you will REGERT IT." She thundered as she raised her finger at Blade.

Breeze frowned yet stayed in alert and ready to support Blade, 'What's her problem!?'

"I have never seen you in my life, what the heck do you want?!" Blade growled back. To back down and stay polite was definitely not the best idea with Sorceresses, she had learned that in Cloud Tower early on.

"You, back off. You hear me!" That woman was furious.

"Back off? From what?" Blade wasn't quite sure what was going on.

The blonde-haired Witch bared her teeth, "Officer SHANE! He is mine!"

Breeze was so confused, "No one with personal beef is to approach the Officer in question…are you nuts?"

"What?" Now it was the Witch who was irritated.

Blade scratched her chin, "Wait, you aren't in – Stole? What do you mean stole? HE approached me. I didn't do anything."

The blond Witch was angered, "Yeah, and then you made an exclusive contract with him!"

"Ooooh, ahahaha, you're just salty that SHANE dumped you! With your aim no wonder!" Breeze laughed her ass off, "Did your piggy bank runoff. Maybe you weren't worth his time or money, Sloth." She poked the Sorceress eager to pound her into the ground with Blade.

"OH, you asked for it-" The Witch flared up her magic.

"WAIT!" Blade stepped in between, "What did Shane do? He never asked me for an exclusive contract. He didn't even mention you or being unsatisfied, with any Sorceress he worked with in the past. Something must have happened. I can help you sort it out," Blade wanted to avoid a fight at all costs. The professors would be furious and she was low on magic.

"As if, why would… wait, your spell…it was Light magic…but you used Dark magic on that last…who are you? Don't tell me you are the real deal that Fairy brat from the hearing," Blondy drew her eyebrows together.

"Yes, I am. The redhead is my persona for Sorceress missions. I train both magic types," Blade explained shortly. "So, Fairy promise, tell me what happened and I'll help."

"Tch. Last month I was his favourite and then out of the blue he doesn't call and I find you to be his new little toy. You are weaker, slower, incompetent, what can you possibly give him, that I can't?!"

'Again…that just sounds like…' Blade squinted her eyes, "What was your last mission?"

The Witch wanted to answer yet suddenly ground her teeth, "Pfff, none of your damn business," the woman dismissed the question and simply growled. "He's dangerous, so piss off. You can't handle him, glowworm," she hissed instead.

"Dangerous, how?" Blade dug deeper. Just for a millisecond Blade could swear the Sorceress was surprised by her own words as if the Sorceress didn't know where that had come from and it was followed by a facade of silence.

"Forget it Blade, she's just pulling her leg," Breeze interrupted, "This charade is a pretty poor display. No horror stories? Half-truths? You're jealous! Maybe he grew tired of the same old lame face of yours."

"Everything okay here?" Officer Steve and Lena came around the corner hands on their holstered guns.

"You'll pay, just you wait and see," The Witch dashed off.

Blade signed the Officers to stand down and not follow, "How did you get here?"

"Red Fountain called, that one of Lucia's friends was in trouble," Steve smiled at Breeze, he had seen her a few times inside their Police station. "And you are?"

"Blade, Fairy, from Alfea, we wanted to grab a bite. But isn't magic threats Council business?" Blade smiled kindly. 'That was weird.' She looked into the sky but the Sorceress had vanished from sight.

"We were closest and you'd be surprised how much just the presence of Police does help to prevent Sorceress fights, Ms," Officer Lena gave a nod. "If you like to file a complaint come to the station, have a nice lunch you two." The two turned around their job was done here.

It was a bit harder today to get to Nerrocean's office without being seen by other Councillors or their interns. Amal quickly knocked and entered, "Eques Iolas, I… C-C-Councillor!" Amal blushed, "My apologies, I should have waited…" Amal was used to just go into the office unless it was Friday. The Elves weren't too big on etiquette and had told him to just slip in unseen to be less conspicuous.

"Aaah, our great paper pusher," Councillor Nerrocean laughed, "Nothing to sweat here. We just finished talking. What's up?" Nerrocean tilted his head, he could read the boy like a newspaper.

"I- Eh…hmm…well, it might be nothing," Amal tucked on his uniform nervously. "But those bugged phones, I mean- their records, chats, the chats, they are… well, weird."

"Oooh," The merman smirked, "How so? I can see you have an assumption. Tell us."

Amal cleared his throat, Nerrocean's presence alone was good enough to scare the shit out of him, "It sounds like code. Not the programming one," He waved his hands around, "I mean like secret messages. I don't understand it not enough data, but…"

"Thanks for coming here with your concerns. Let's discuss it. Thallan, Ilrune come here," Iolas ordered his two guys to join, who instantly dropped their game cards, "Give us an example," Iolas made way for Nerrocean to sit in his chair and leaned against the desk.

"I haven't just one…though," Amal used his bracelet to transfer his screenshots to Nerrocean's console and the Mereman displayed them. "I already inserted the real names they mostly use a self-written forum app with nicknames…"

"Show them all in that case," Iolas nodded and his eyes already flew over the first text message.

"Well, this one…" Amal cleared his throat.

I don't get it, who has shit the Council in the head?! Working with Witches. INSANITY! ~ Officer Roger

I know, right? ~ Officer Jeffreson

I think Shabaka was right. Just dive in, get rid of the problem at the root~ Officer Roger

Lightning would zap you before you'd even get close. ~ Officer Jeffreson

Not on the purple eyesore, our esteemed W… ~ Officer Roger

Ah, well, I get it, I like to snap William's neck, too ~ Officer Jeffreson

Yeah, this is ridiculous, I mean come on, they'll behave for a few weeks and then… ~ Officer Roger

They'll backstab us, they always do, even their own kind. Nothing more than vermin ~ Officer Jeffreson

Got to go. See ya, at the assembly? ~ Officer Roger

Of course, something has to be done after all ~ Officer Jeffreson

"Hmm…," Councillor Nerrocean sighed, "that won't hold up in Court, could be just venting. Shabaka…that little… to think anyone could see him as some kind of martyr."

Iolas clicked his tongue, "Still, that police faction is growing restless, this new cooperation is bringing forth some ugly notions. It's a good thing we are grilling them now and not later. Are the other examples of the same?"

"No, it gets, uhm, weirder?" Amal pulled up another entry screenshot. The elders waited patiently.

Idiots all of them, the Council has no idea with all their peace talks they have their heads in each other's asses, USELESS ~Officer Joe

I mean, we ordered a lot of doughnuts. Hard to trace and effective ~ Officer Roger

Don't be stupid the guards would immediately find them and backtrack ~ Officer Joe

Not the Council, I mean we should stuff William with some, if he falls everything else will. I ordered plenty ~ Officer Roger

Right, we have enough for the whole weekend. Ah, this anniversary assembly will be juicy. Ooooooooohhhh, I can't wait! Uhh, better idea invite Will, just to see his face, ha! ~ Officer Joe

"I mean, I'm not sure what they mean with doughnuts…but…it can't be doughnuts, right?" Amal looked at the four grown-ups.

"Hmm, backtrack… Black magic?" Ilrune thought out loud.

"We also can backtrack people," Thallan added.

Nerrocean shook his head, "It's not a person. But - immediately - would mean the runes activate. So yeah, Black magic."

Iolas sighed, "With invite, they mean the assembly?" He looked to his team who reluctantly agreed as they couldn't think of something better.

Amal nodded to their thesis, "Could also be bombs but you don't stuff people with bombs."

"There was that one maniac…" Master Nerrocean growled. "Could be code as well, though."

"Right… that was a mess…" Ilrune recalled. "What else have you got?" He looked at the little intern.

"Well, if you are interested in the assembly…next one is more of a group chat," Amal clicked around and pulled up the next one.

Guys we all know we need the doughnuts for the assembly, we can't eat them before ~ Officer Francis

Yeah, the sugar rush needs to be savoured for our guest speaker. You don't waste them on small fry like Will ~ Officer Shirley

Yeah, yeah, you're right. I just can't wait to see their faces. When we'll finish polishing the speech and upload it for all to see. It'll be a blast ~ Officer Adam

They'll never see it coming ~ Officer Shirley

Heh, true, in the end, it's always us on top. They'll go crazy and we'll be there to greet them, always will be ~ Officer Francis

Glorious doughnuts, ahh…well the red-glazed ones are just the best ~ Officer Joe

True, they are so potent in sugar they make you go crazy, ahahaha ~ Officer Roger

Yeah, can't wait for it, just a few days left, the reckoning will come, no one will forget, not one of them ~ Officer Francis

Indeed, a war that will put Desertia in its shadow ~Officer Hans

Councillor Nerrocean grumbled, "Intern Amal… you should always start with the important ones…"

"M-My a-a-apolog-gies. I, it's chronological…" Amal stiffened up. "I g-g-got more…"

"Bold," Ilrune looked to Iolas, "They'll use Red Crystals and attack the Magix City."

"Or the outskirts…" Thallan noted, "They are less fortified." None of them liked it. This would mean major trouble.

Nerrocean waved his hands in magic and a paper appeared, "They won't get far…" He was super pissed.

"A-are," Amal started yet stopped.

Iolas looked kindly upon the young boy, "Yes, what's up?"

"W-w-why Red Crystals? Couldn't it be something else? You have tide security set up, how could they possibly have gotten Red Crystal into the city?" Amal looked nervously at the four.

"Boy, they think they are smart and hiding in chats and fake names, but as any amateur, they suck at code languages. Any second grader could solve this," Master Nerrocean had finished his letter and with a snap of his fingers it vanished in dark flames.

"But- the Council y-y-you said, the borders are closed and n-nothing comes in without y-your knowledge…besides… the Police force doesn't have powerful wizards or magic users," Amal had such a hard time voicing his opinion. 'Blade told me to be bolder but – I can't tell them how to do their job… it can't be Red Crystals, not here, it's Magix they should have confiscated it right away, they always do.'

"We say that so people don't panic and indeed we have a tight net, but as always a net has wholes," Iolas tried to explain vaguely. "Fish always will find those. Especially small ones."

"Still…there is not a lot to go on here…" Amal didn't like this but arguing his side wouldn't help so he switched tactics, "If- then – I could write a code, a virus and we'll know who else is involved. We need to catch them all, right? No matter what they have planned."

Thallan laughed, "Little intern knows his way in Court," He had seen right through him. "He is right though. A little techno-magic should get us perfect results. And with a few days left, Techno-Magic Division should be able to set up a pretty good virus."

"Yes," Iolas looked to Nerrocean who nodded, "Amal for the rest of this operation you'll join the Techno-Division of the Council guard. You'll watch and help them set a magic trap virus. If I recall from your early reports. That assembly is live and online, which means in the worst case more kingdoms will be involved."

"They picked the right date… annual executive departments meeting of Magix so normally we'd be busy with ourselves. Enough time for them to raise the Army of darkness or whatever shit they came up with," Nerrocean had a grim glare as he read over the texts again. "They'll wish they never were born if they think they can touch my planet." His Red Jade tattoos glowed menacingly in reaction to his anger magic flowed freely through his body.