It has been a day since the proposed plan for the exploration of ruin has been passed.

Michael in his room, unable to sleep all night. Still trying to think about the reason, why the exploration plan has been passed. After meeting uncle Davis last night, he is even more confused.

“What does Uncle Davis meant by saying that this exploration is not as dangerous as everyone thought of and it’s for the good of gang. What happened in the meeting last morning? That changed everyone’s mind about ruin.” Michael whispered in low voice. “Looks like I need to go and find the recent news related to ruin. There is still some before everyone comes back; I need to prepare for the worst at least”.

After thinking about the exploration plan the whole night, Michael concluded that. This exploration is more dangerous than he originally thought of. He originally thought that this is a death trap for him and Aria but now it doesn’t look like one. After all, there is no way Morgan will want to harm Aria. In the moment of anger, Michael forgot the most important thing is Morgan loves Aria, and no matter what he will not try to harm her life. So there needs to be something in the ruin that assure Morgan that the harm will only come towards me and he is a way to protect Aria and everyone else; that is the reason why no one in the higher echelon of the gang thinks it will cost any problems to the gang in a longer run.

Michael left his room and went to mission hall to look for any mission that is closer to where ruin has been found. Finally, after looking for a bit Michael found a mission.

Mission Board: -

1. Look for a girl named Crystal (17 years old/ short, frail, and pale-looking girl)

2. Find the mine location of the Roger’s Family in Black Mountain

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10) Scout the area around the Black Forest. (A horde of Tier 2 monster has been reported by the last scout before he went missing. Meeting Point: City Hall; Time: 11am)

Mission Board is consisting of all the missions that are available to people of the gang except some secret and high-profile missions.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Mission related to mine and the scouting mission; they both are closer to ruin but one mission only allows me to go in incognito mode while the other allows me to meet people from other powers. Currently I have no information regarding ruins outside of rumours so it might be good to go with a group to get some latest news regarding ruins. Then let’s go with the scouting mission” Michael decided.

While Michael was selecting his mission, he saw Aria coming towards him.

“Hey, Michael! What mission are you picking?” Aria asked.

“Scouting one, you interested?” Michael asked back.

“Yeah, I haven’t planned anything for today. Let’s go take this mission since it is closer to Ruin site also.” Aria said.

Michael looked Aria in the eyes and knows that she is thinking the same thing as him.

“OK, I will go and apply for the mission,” Michael said.

Michael went to apply for the mission. While Michael was away, Aria was in her thoughts thinking about whether she tells Michael the whole truth about the exploration plan or not.

Last Night, Aria’s room

“Since this is a very important thing for all of us and the gang, I will appreciate it if no one tells anyone about the real truth.” Morgan especially looks towards the crooked nose man and Davis.

Aria watched the whole recording of the meeting on her phone and ended up knowing the whole plan which is put forward by Morgan to all the people present in the meeting. As for how she has a recording of the meeting.

This is very simple, there are many cameras installed in many parts of the Red Mask Gang building including the meeting hall. But there are few cameras which are disabled years ago to make sure that no leaks happen including the meeting hall one. But no one expected that once Oliver took the position of the Gang Leader. He has enabled some of those cameras again which include the meeting hall one. Since no one in years has talked about the installed camera in the meeting hall everyone forgot about it including Axel and Morgan.

Every time Oliver went on a dangerous mission, he will transfer the control rights of these cameras to Aria. Even though Aria can check these cameras anytime, she never checked them before because there was no need to. Since Oliver will always come back from those dangerous missions. But this time he didn’t come back since then Aria started to look at all recordings to trying to find any clue regarding Oliver's disappearance. However, she didn’t find anything.

After the exploration mission was accepted in the meeting hall Aria checked the camera recording to know the full truth and after knowing she doesn’t know whether she should tell Michael about it or not. After all, she knows Michael better than anyone and she doesn’t want any to know about the installed cameras also since she has promised her dad not to tell anyone about it.

Now she is in a dilemma whether she tells Michael about it or not. While Aria was in her dilemma Michael comes back and tell her to get ready to head out.

“Aria let’s go I have applied for the mission.”

But Aria was still thinking about whether she tell Michael or not.

“Aria it’s going to be okay, you don’t need to care about the exploration mission. I will protect you.”

Michael thought that Aria is thinking about the mission.

Aria took a deep breath and decided to tell Michael everything on their way to the Black Forest.

“Let’s go, Michael, I am ok,” Aria answered Michael.

“let’s go then,” Michael replied.

"Since Aria is telling me she is okay, she should be okay." thought Michael.

Then both of them started to move out of the Red Mask Building.