The hallways of HQ were hushed as Val and Ember made their way back, each lost in thought after the foreboding conversation they'd just shared with Deleo. The flickering lights cast long shadows around them, accentuating the quiet that hung over HQ in the wake of the briefing.

Just as they reached the end of the hallway, Deleo's voice echoed in Val's mind, a quiet but insistent presence.

"Val, this mission—is it set as an assault or recon?"

The question was simple enough, but the tone of it made Val pause.

"Recon," Val replied inwardly, his brow creasing. "Why?"

There was a pause on Deleo's end, and when he finally responded, his tone had shifted to something more somber, edged with caution. "Request to only send you. Have Ember on standby in HQ."

The statement stopped Val in his tracks, and he lifted an eyebrow, caught off guard by the unusual request. The thought of separating from Ember, especially for a mission with such high stakes, was strange. Ember, noticing his brother's sudden hesitation, stopped as well, watching him with mild curiosity, and perhaps a bit of knowing. Val was clearly having an internal conversation with Deleo.

Deleo's request lingered in Val's mind, and he felt the weight of the suggestion. "Why the sudden request?" Val asked silently, though he was genuinely curious.

In response, Deleo's voice softened, though his words carried an undertone of gravity.

"Based on what I gathered from your conversation with Ember and the mission briefing… something feels off. My instincts tell me they're trying to lure your team away, leaving Clareo vulnerable. I've seen this before."

The sincerity in Deleo's tone was enough to make Val frown, his stride slowing. He could sense the weight of Deleo's words—not just as an ancient, primordial being, but as someone who had seen centuries of similar tactics.

"You think Hades' Wrath is waiting for us to leave so they can strike Clareo directly?"

"Precisely." Deleo's response was sharp, without a trace of hesitation. "Hades' Wrath has always been an opportunistic force. They strike when their enemies are at their weakest, when defenses are low and chaos is likely. If the whole of Team Unknown is deployed, Clareo will be vulnerable. And they will know this."

Val's mind worked quickly, turning over Deleo's insight. It made sense. If Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus had been planning this for as long as he suspected, it was highly likely they'd use any distraction as a smokescreen, striking at Clareo when it was least expected.

The silence stretched as Val processed Deleo's advice, his frown deepening as he considered the implications. Ember noticed the dark expression on Val's face and raised an eyebrow, clearly curious.

"What did Deleo say this time?" Ember asked, his voice quiet but laced with mild amusement, though his gaze was cautious.

Val looked at him, nodding slightly. "I think we need to discuss this seriously with the team and Dr. Lewis," he said, his voice low. He started walking again, his gaze steeled with a newfound resolve. "We're heading back to the briefing room."

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Ember's expression shifted, his usual confidence hardening into something sharper. He nodded, falling into step beside Val as they headed back toward the command center, each of them now on high alert.

Within minutes, the core members of Team Unknown—Bo, Fon, Riggs, Val, and Ember—gathered in the briefing room along with Dr. Lewis, who was in the middle of reviewing new intelligence reports when the team entered. He looked up, his gaze curious but alert as he sensed the weight of the unexpected meeting.

Dr. Lewis folded his hands in front of him, addressing the team. "What's going on? The mission was confirmed for tomorrow's deployment."

Val spoke first, his tone level but edged with the seriousness of the revelation. "Dr. Lewis, I've just had a conversation with Deleo. He has a… concern about our mission parameters."

Dr. Lewis's expression shifted to a more careful neutrality as he waited for Val to continue.

Val glanced around the room, noting the attention from each member of Team Unknown, before he explained. "Deleo has suggested an alternate approach. He believes this mission may be part of a larger strategy by Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus to draw our team away from Clareo."

The rest of the team exchanged cautious glances, their expressions ranging from mild concern to irritation. Bo let out a low whistle, his gaze darkening. "They're trying to play us, then. Get us out of the way and leave Clareo wide open."

Val nodded. "Exactly. Deleo suspects that if we deploy as planned, the city could be vulnerable. He recommended a change: only I go on this mission, with the rest of the team on standby at HQ."

The room fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the steady hum of the machines monitoring intel feeds. Dr. Lewis's gaze shifted to Ember, who had gone silent, his jaw set. Though he trusted Deleo's instincts, the suggestion to send only Val into the field clearly had him on edge.

Riggs spoke up first, his tone wary. "With all due respect to Deleo, isn't sending just one of us a bigger risk? If Val's right and this mission is a trap, wouldn't that make him an easy target?"

Val's expression remained steady as he considered Riggs's point, but he shook his head. "That's the thing. Deleo's instincts are rarely wrong—he believes that if only one of us goes, it will keep Clareo protected and catch the enemy off-guard. They expect Team Unknown to deploy in full strength. By going in alone, I can minimize the risk of drawing them out."

Dr. Lewis sat back, his face pensive as he processed this. "If Deleo's assessment is correct, then we're dealing with an enemy far more calculating than our initial intelligence suggested. One willing to exploit any weakness in our defenses."

Ember finally spoke, his voice low. "If Hades' Wrath and Black Lotus have been planning this for as long as Deleo suspects, then it makes sense. They're aiming to destabilize our position here, weakening our stronghold by dividing us."

Dr. Lewis looked around at the team, each one of them now visibly unsettled by the weight of the decision. "So, if we go forward with Deleo's suggestion, Val will handle the mission alone, and the rest of you will remain here. But Val…" Dr. Lewis paused, a trace of concern evident in his eyes. "You'll need to be in and out fast. And stay on communication channels at all times."

Val nodded. "Understood, sir. I'll keep the mission limited to recon only. If I encounter any threats, I'll retreat immediately."

Bo crossed his arms, glancing skeptically at Val. "You're good, Val, but that's a lot to handle solo. You sure you want to go in without backup?"

Val's gaze was steady. "I'll have Deleo with me," he replied simply. "If things go wrong, he can assist. But for now, this is the best option we have. It keeps Clareo secured."

Dr. Lewis nodded, his gaze serious. "Then that's the plan. The rest of you," he said, looking to the team, "stay on high alert. If anything unusual happens in Clareo during Val's mission, be ready to act immediately."

A murmur of agreement passed through the team as they absorbed the gravity of the plan. Fon clenched his fists, his voice low. "If they think they're going to catch us off-guard, they're in for a rude surprise."

Ember placed a hand on Val's shoulder, giving him a long, steady look. "Stay sharp out there. We'll be watching."

Val inclined his head, a faint smile breaking his usually stoic demeanor. "Don't worry. I'll be back before they even know I'm there."

With that, Dr. Lewis dismissed them, and the team began preparing for the mission, each of them carrying the silent understanding of the risks involved.