All of the Twelve Zoalords were gathered
together at the Arizona base, inside the Celestial Hall.
Imakarum had just finished telling them everything about the
ACF; all that he had known about the organization that had
opposed Chronos and helped to shelter Masaki Murakami and his
son. Lord Alkanphel looked only mildly interested, Lords Shin,
Edward, Yentsui and Fried’rich looked more interested, Lords
Waferdanos, Tuarhan and Hamilcal seemed somehow amused, and
Lords Jearvill, Kaburaal and Luggnagg looked outright derisive.
"Come now, Mirabilis," Lord
Jearvill was the first to speak after Imakarum had finished.
"You don’t honestly believe that a group made up merely of
humans can hope to stand
against the might of Chronos, do you?"
"Those of the Anti Chronos Front are not
like any humans that you have encountered before, Lord
Jearvill," Imakarum said calmly.
"Of course they aren’t," Lord Jearvill
said, sarcasm suffusing his tone.
"That will be enough," Lord Alkanphel
said flatly. "There is a chance that this organization could
prove to be a threat to our plans."
"We should simply initiate X-Day now.
Wipe this ‘Anti Chronos Front’ out in one fell stroke," Lord
Waferdanos suggested.
"No. As of right now there are too many
humans who would join up with the Anti Chronos Front. To protect
what they feel are their basic rights and freedoms," Imakarum
countered. "If we were to strike now, the Anti Chronos Front’s
ranks would swell. They would become far more of a threat than
they are to us now."
"Imakarum is right," Lord Alkanphel
said. "Through him, I also know of this Anti Chronos Front and
its goals. These humans are not to be underestimated, Jearvill.
They will fight with all their strength against us. But more
than that, they will use every bit of cunning they posses. I
know of the weapon that they designed, and if they have had time
to develop any more like it, they will pose more of a threat to
our Zoanoid soldiers than any human has before. A threat that is
at least comparable to that posed by a Guyver."
"Yes, that ‘Zoanoid Buster Custom’ that
they created," Lord Hamilcal said, sounding as if he
disapproved. "Rather an inelegant name for the device. And this
company of theirs, Max Factory. I find all of this highly
troubling."
"Yes," Lord Fried’rich agreed. "I also
find it troubling that this Anti Chronos Front has managed to
conceal themselves from us for so long. We should have been at
the very least aware of them before they were able to become
this much of a threat to us. How did our operatives manage to
overlook something this important?"
"I would also like to find that out,
Fried’rich," Alkanphel stated. "However, there is also the
matter of the interrogations to be conducted at Cloud Tower.
There will need to be one of us overseeing it."
"I will see to that, Lord Alkanphel."
"Thank you, Hamilcal," Alkanphel said
gratefully. "Imakarum, will you see that the matter of the Anti
Chronos Front is investigated thoroughly?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Very well then," Alkanphel said,
satisfied. "The rest of you are to report back to your
assignments. I will of course contact you if there are any new
developments."
"Yes, Lord Alkanphel," the remaining
nine Zoalords said, teleporting out en mass.
Imakarum bowed to Alkanphel, before he
too teleported out of the Celestial Hall. Hamilcal, however, was
still standing in the Hall itself. He was staring at the place
where Imakarum had once been standing and there was an uneasy
expression on his face. Finally, Hamilcal spoke.
"Are you sure that we can still trust
him, my Lord?"
"Do you doubt your own work that much,
Hamilcal?" Alkanphel asked.
"No. it is not that, my Lord," Hamilcal
still look uncertain. "But Imakarum has admitted that he once
worked with these humans. This Anti Chronos Front."
"You feel that this will be a temptation
for our new Twelfth," Alkanphel said calmly.
"Yes, my Lord. That is what concerns
me."
"There is no need for you to be
concerned over that, Hamilcal. Imakarum knows who he is loyal
to. His life as Masaki Murakami ended at Mt. Minakami, and
Imakarum has accepted this as fact."
Hamilcal nodded, but Alkanphel could
feel that his Second Zoalord was still uneasy.
"Be at peace, Hamilcal. There is nothing
for you to worry about."