NOVEL NEXT Chapter 145: Moving Out
Sounds of boots stomping onto the ground could be heard approaching.
Lukas looked towards the entrance, and it was Kevin with all the other awakened teams.
They nodded at Lukas and his teammates as they streamed into the cafeteria to get their food.
Lukas, with his cup of coffee in his hand, silently observed them from his seat, trying to see if any of them were behaving strangely.
The other awakened teams chattered among themselves and picked up their breakfast.
None seemed to be suspicious.
After the other awakened teams had gotten their breakfast, they sat down in the cafeteria.
Every one of them ate and talked among their own teams, while side-eyeing the others on and off to try to get a grasp of how good the others were.
Kevin even walked around chatting with the other awakened teams.
Terry was focused on wiping his utensils with the help of Lin.
And to the right of Lukas, Lin Fan sat and ate quietly with Lin Fan's teammates.
"How are you doing today?" Kevin walked over with a huge smile.
"Thanks, feeling much better now." Lukas replied.
Kevin nodded, pulled a chair and sat down next to Lukas.
He placed his coffee mug onto the table and said, "I don't know much about your team, but I think having a common goal is all that matters.
"If you trust me, I think it would be great for us to work together."
Kevin then patted hard onto Lukas's back.
"What the..." He was surprised at how tough Lukas's back was.
Kevin pulled back his hand and glanced at his palm.
It was reddened from the impact.
He glanced over at Lukas next.
Lukas was much stronger than he seemed, Kevin thought.
His eyes narrowed and he was glad that he had approached Lukas and his teammates.
"Maybe this time, I can outperform Terry on this mission." He mumbled silently to himself.
In past missions where Kevin competed with Terry's team, he had always lost.
However, Lukas weren't too keen. he nodded at Kevin and kept quiet.
Lukas then glanced over at Riley so that Riley could made an decision.
Riley gave Kevin a smile and said, "Thanks, we will definitely try and help when there's a need to complete the mission."
It was the most diplomatic response Riley could give.
"Ho ho. Yes, that's what we should be doing." Kevin stood up from his chair and walked away.
Before he left, he gave Lukas another glance.
"What was that?" Rex munched on his sandwich and said.
"Nothing much. You know, the usual. Everyone trying to get the rewards for themselves." Riley said and sighed.
After doing this for so long, he had seen too much.
It was every team and every man for himself when you went out there for a mission.
Lukas nodded and glanced over at Kevin.
Kevin seemed to be friendly and boisterous on the surface but was also capable, trying to guarantee a better chance of success for his team.
Lukas figured Kevin might have said the same thing to Lin Fan and Terry.
"Come to the Governor's office for the briefing after you are done with breakfast."
Sherry's voice boomed in the speakers of the cafeteria and broke Lukas's thoughts.
Lukas and the others finished their breakfast quickly and they made their way to the Governor's office.
There were armored cars arranged by Sherry ready to pick them up outside the hotel.
The journey to the Governor's office wasn't too far away and they arrived there shortly after an uneventful ride.
"Welcome back." Sherry greeted them in the lobby of the Governor's office.
In the lobby, there were five other awakened teams already there waiting.
They were in other areas of the city the day before and hadn't met Lukas and the other three awakened teams.
Laid in front of Sherry were folders with some documents inside. And besides the folders were weapons, ammunition, earbuds for communications and essentials for survival.
"Everyone, take a folder each." She said and Lukas took one of the folders.
He opened it and read the documents inside.
First it was a map that looked familiar to him.
It was a map that led to the Jewel Lake.
And the other documents after the map were about their target for the mission.
"The target of this mission is an Apex Level demonic beast lurking in the Jewel Lake.
"We don't have much information other than accounts from those who encountered it.
"Supposedly, it's unlike other demonic beasts.
"It's much more intelligent and able to use its ability to seduce and lure awakened to their death."
Sherry briefed them as Lukas flipped through the documents in his hand.
There were aerial shots of the Apex demonic beast, which only showed a smudge of darkness within the chilling water of the Jewel Lake.
Other than that, there were testimonials from awakened teams who had encountered the Apex demonic beast.
Lukas frowned when he read the testimonials.
"There were voices...telling me to..."
"I nearly succumbed to it, thinking that it was my savior."
"My teammate snapped me out of it by shooting at my arm. God, it hurts."
They confirmed what he had figured earlier.
The Divined One was under the control of the Apex demonic beast.
Channeling the powers of the Apex demonic beast through him.
He wasn't the only one concerned with the testimonials.
Terry raised his hand and asked, "Secretary Sherry, this Apex demonic beast seems to be smart and does mind control.
"Any way for us to counter it?"
They were used to fighting demonic beasts that wielded physical powers; an Apex Level demonic beast that used cognitive control wasn't something they had encountered before.
"Good question." Sherry replied and pointed at some devices that looked like grenades.
"These grenades have been infused with some powers from my Cognitive Dominion ability.
"They would help you stay conscious within their blast range of sixty feet for ten minutes.
"I can't be everywhere at the same time, so use them sparingly."
There were enough grenades for the awakened team members to have two each.
The awakened team members quickly grabbed onto the cognitive dominion grenades and kept them securely while glancing at what the others were doing.
It was a crucial item for them to deal with the Apex Level demonic beast.
Whoever had more would have a much higher chance of survival.
Lukas took his share of the cognitive dominion grenades and put them into his Darkmatter Vault Armor.
His Darkmatter Vault Armor was now tattered with many torn areas due to the battles earlier, making him look less impressive.
But he didn't have the chance to trouble Harianto to fix it for him.
Harianto wasn't like him, and Lukas knew that Harianto required all the rest he could get.
"When you are ready, pack the weapons and essentials before we move out." Sherry shouted and the lobby was abuzz with activity.