Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1715: Begin Phase-3

[Welcome home, Commander Jonathan Vale.]

The transparent barrier dissolved into countless particles of light before reconstructing itself behind them after they entered.

Young Aether immediately looked around with visible interest.

The lobby was enormous.

Artificial waterfalls flowed down crystal walls while suspended gardens floated beneath the ceiling using localised gravity manipulation technology. Several service drones quietly moved throughout the area while holographic displays projected real-time city information into the air.

“Damn… your apartment building is richer than entire neighbourhoods where I came from,” Young Aether muttered.

Jonathan grabbed his wrist before he could wander off.

“We can admire the architecture later. Right now, we need to make sure you’re safe.”

Several minutes later, they arrived before an elevator unlike anything Young Aether had ever seen.

A circular platform rested within the centre of a transparent shaft extending through the entire building. The moment they stepped onto it, an invisible force field formed around them while streams of blue energy illuminated intricate patterns beneath the platform’s surface.

Jonathan pressed the button labelled Floor 70.

Immediately, the platform accelerated upward.

There was no vibration, no shaking, and almost no sensation of movement despite the incredible speed. Through the transparent enclosure, Young Aether watched the city rapidly descend beneath them… while thousands of lights stretched toward the horizon like a living ocean of stars.

Less than ten seconds later, they arrived at their destination.

The protective field dissolved as the platform came to a gentle stop.

Young Aether stepped forward and immediately noticed something unusual.

The entire seventieth floor contained only a single residence.

There were no neighbouring doors, no additional hallways, and no signs that anyone else lived on the floor.

“This whole floor belongs to you?” Young Aether asked.

Jonathan nodded casually as if owning an entire floor was perfectly normal.

He approached the massive entrance and placed his palm against a biometric scanner embedded within the wall.

The scanner emitted a soft pulse of blue light before rapidly analysing his identity.

[Authorisation confirmed.]

Several locking mechanisms disengaged simultaneously.

The reinforced door slowly parted, revealing the interior beyond.

The moment they stepped inside, the apartment awakened.

Thousands of microscopic smart-lights embedded throughout the walls and ceiling activated one after another. Floor-to-ceiling windows adjusted their transparency automatically while holographic control panels appeared across nearby surfaces.

The residence itself was enormous.

Advanced entertainment systems, automated furniture, environmental control units, and integrated AI networks were seamlessly incorporated into the architecture.

The far wall consisted entirely of transparent smart-glass overlooking the city skyline, providing a breathtaking view of Delta City’s countless lights.

“You stay here for now,” Jonathan said while patting Young Aether’s shoulder. “There are several things I need to deal with before morning, and I’d rather handle them before the entire division starts calling me.”

“Huh? Where are you going?” Young Aether asked as he watched Jonathan prepare to leave almost immediately after arriving home.

“I need to report everything that happened to the Governor as soon as possible,” Jonathan replied with a serious expression.

“The Forbidden Region has appeared again, the entire Second Squadron has been wiped out, and we encountered a threat that exceeded every prediction made by our Mech-Suit systems. If I delay reporting any of this information, the division will come looking for me long before I have the chance to explain myself.”

Although Young Aether wanted to spend more time talking with his friend after everything they had experienced together, he could understand the importance of the situation and reluctantly nodded his head.

“Fine, but don’t take too long. We barely survived that nightmare, and I’d rather not be left alone in some luxury apartment while you’re dealing with government business.”

Jonathan allowed himself a small smile before pointing toward a corridor extending deeper into the residence.

“You can use the third bedroom on the right side of the hallway.”

After finishing his explanation, Jonathan walked toward a nearby desk and picked up a golden ID card. He then grabbed a metallic ring resting beside it before quickly heading toward the exit.

A few minutes later, Jonathan stepped onto the apartment’s elevator platform and began descending toward the ground floor. While the platform silently travelled downward through the transparent shaft, he slipped the metallic ring onto his finger and activated it.

“Hey Rin, summon Clark 007.”

A pleasant feminine voice immediately echoed from the device.

^Command accepted. Summoning Clark 007.^

Soft blue particles emerged from the ring before dissolving into the surrounding air.

When Jonathan reached the ground floor, he exited the elevator and walked toward the building’s designated vehicle platform.

Rather than waiting in a traditional parking area, he stood beside a circular metallic structure embedded into the pavement outside the entrance.

Several seconds later, a deep mechanical rumble spread through the ground beneath him.

The circular platform suddenly split apart as enormous locking mechanisms disengaged beneath the surface. Hydraulic systems activated with powerful metallic sounds before an underground storage chamber slowly rose into view.

Resting upon the platform was a sleek crimson vehicle.

Its aerodynamic body resembled a predatory beast prepared to launch itself into the sky at any moment. Black flame-like patterns stretched across the metallic exterior while streams of blue energy flowed beneath the chassis.

Instead of wheels, four anti-gravity propulsion units generated stable gravitational distortions that allowed the vehicle to hover effortlessly above the ground.

The moment the platform finished rising, the driver’s side door unfolded upward in a smooth arc.

Jonathan stepped inside.

The interior immediately illuminated as dozens of holographic interfaces materialised around him. Navigation systems projected directly onto the windshield while countless diagnostic windows displayed vehicle status reports, atmospheric conditions, air traffic information, and security updates.

Without requiring manual input, the artificial intelligence immediately recognised its owner.

[Welcome back, Commander Jonathan Vale. Destination request?]

“Delta Tower.”

[Destination confirmed. Fastest route calculated. Estimated arrival time: seven minutes and twenty-one seconds.]

The vehicle accelerated smoothly before rising into the air and merging with the city’s aerial transportation network.

Below him, Delta City stretched endlessly toward the horizon.

Jonathan’s thoughts remained occupied by everything that had happened inside the Forbidden Forest. The destruction of his squadron, the horrors hidden within that cursed region, and the mysterious entities they had encountered continued to replay inside his mind. Every memory reminded him just how close he had come to dying.

Several minutes later, Delta Tower finally appeared in the distance.

The structure dominated the skyline so completely that every surrounding skyscraper seemed insignificant by comparison.

Its silver-black exterior extended beyond the cloud layer while countless streams of energy travelled along channels embedded throughout the tower’s surface. Near the summit, an enormous crimson beacon pulsed continuously, and each flash illuminated the surrounding clouds with a faint red glow.

Vehicle gradually descended toward the designated landing platform while automatically transmitting security credentials to the tower’s defence systems. Multiple scanning arrays swept across the vehicle during its approach, verifying its identity before granting clearance to enter restricted airspace.

The anti-gravity systems slowly reduced output before the vehicle touched down smoothly near the main entrance.

Ssnnnngg…!

The area surrounding the tower was heavily secured.

Several guards wearing Mech-Suits stood near the entrance.

“Id,” one of the guards stated immediately.

Jonathan retrieved his golden identification card and presented it.

A crimson scanning beam emerged from the guard’s visor before sweeping across the card several times. After confirming its authenticity, the soldier immediately stepped aside.

“Access granted, Commander.”

Jonathan thanked him with a nod before entering the building.

Gigantic holographic displays filled the central lobby while countless government employees worked alongside systems managing every aspect of Delta City’s operations. Streams of information flowed visibly through the air as advanced processors transferred data between departments in real time.

Ignoring the activity surrounding him, Jonathan headed directly toward the central elevator platform and selected the highest floor… The Top Floor!

After swiping his identification card, the system finally approved his request.

The platform accelerated upward at astonishing speed while maintaining complete stability throughout the journey.

Although Jonathan appeared calm from the outside, his nervousness continued growing with every passing second. His fingers tapped unconsciously against his leg while he mentally rehearsed how he intended to explain the destruction of an entire military squadron.

Eventually, the elevator reached its destination.

The metallic doors opened to reveal a quiet corridor illuminated by elegant golden lighting. Unlike the bustling activity below, the highest floor remained completely silent and carried an atmosphere of authority that seemed to permeate every corner.

Jonathan walked toward a large office located at the far end of the corridor before finally stopping in front of the door.

After taking a slow breath and collecting his thoughts, he raised his hand and knocked politely against the surface, knowing that the conversation awaiting him would likely determine the course of the coming days.

Knock, Knock…

For several seconds, there was no response from the other side of the door.

Jonathan remained completely still while waiting in the silent corridor. Unlike most people, he knew the man inside well enough to understand that impatience would accomplish nothing.

If the matter truly required attention, the person behind that door would eventually respond.

As expected, the door slowly parted.

The room beyond briefly became visible before the opening narrowed once more.

A handsome man stepped out wearing a loose grey robe embroidered with silver threads that shimmered faintly under the corridor lights. His black hair was messy as if he had only recently left his bed, and thin beads of sweat covered his forehead.

“What is so urgent that you came here personally, Jonathan Vale?” the man asked while rubbing his temple.

Jonathan immediately lowered his head respectfully.

“Iron Marshal, we have encountered the Forbidden Forest.”

The handsome man’s expression immediately darkened into a frown before he glanced back toward the room behind him. A rich fragrance lingered in the air, accompanied by faint moans that occasionally drifted through the partially opened doorway.

He quietly pulled the door shut behind him before walking further down the corridor, clearly intending to discuss the matter somewhere more private.

“Come with me,” he said quietly.

Jonathan followed behind.

The two men eventually stopped before a massive transparent wall.

From this height, they could only see the clouds.

While staring at the night starry sky, Iron Marshal listened as Jonathan carefully explained everything that had happened inside the Forbidden Forest.

Naturally, Jonathan omitted every detail related to Young Aether.

According to his report, he had simply managed to survive by sacrificing his damaged Mech-Suit and utilising the emergency Energy reactor.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

The Iron Marshal listened quietly from beginning to end without interrupting even once.

When Jonathan finally finished speaking, silence filled the corridor.

The man reached into his robe and retrieved a metallic cigarette case.

A small blue flame emerged from a miniature plasma lighter embedded into his wristband.

Puff…

The cigarette ignited instantly.

ssshh~

Thin streams of smoke drifted through the air before being collected by invisible environmental filters integrated into the building.

The Iron Marshal continued staring through the transparent wall while slowly smoking.

“To think there is something even worse than the hooded creature,” he finally said while exhaling a stream of smoke. “That is certainly not information I was expecting to hear tonight.”

His voice remained calm, but Jonathan could sense the tension hidden beneath it.

The Iron Marshal took another drag before continuing.

“You are telling me that even an incomplete energy reactor detonation failed to leave so much as a scratch on that thing?”

“Yes,” Jonathan replied immediately.

The Iron Marshal laughed softly.

“What kind of monster have we stumbled upon this time?”

Although he sounded amused, there was no humour in his eyes.

His gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon where countless stars stretched endlessly across the sky.

For nearly a minute, neither man spoke.

The Iron Marshal appeared lost in thought as he processed the information and calculated its implications.

Eventually, he released another stream of smoke and spoke in a cold voice.

“Just as the clauses within the Arcane Goddess’s Contract were written, the next time a Forbidden Zone manifested, humanity’s true nightmare would begin.”

The smoke drifted around him like a living shadow.

Jonathan remained silent.

Deep down, he agreed.

The creature they had encountered was unlike anything recorded within military databases.

The Iron Marshal crushed the cigarette against a nearby disposal unit before turning toward Jonathan.

The playful expression he had worn earlier was completely gone.

Only cold authority remained.

“Contact the President immediately,” he ordered.

Jonathan straightened his posture.

“We are initiating military action, sir?”

“We don’t have the luxury of waiting anymore,” the Iron Marshal replied.

“If the Forbidden Forest has returned and entities of this level are beginning to emerge, then…”

His gaze became frighteningly cold.

“Begin Phase-3.”

Jonathan’s lips slowly curled upward.

A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes as countless plans immediately surfaced within his mind.

“Understood, Iron Marshal.”