Lucas sent his thoughts through the mental link to the infiltration leader, describing in detail what he saw in this dimly lit basement. "I can see three men guarding a large mirror. But what's strange is that this mirror doesn't reflect any of them at all. It only reflects the stone walls and shadows from the lamps. I believe there's a separate dimensional space within the mirror—it's their true hiding place."
The infiltration leader listened silently, considering the implications. He paused for a moment, surveying his team members who stood tensely awaiting orders. He knew that entering an unknown dimension could be a trap with no escape, but at the same time, it might be the only way to reach their targets.
"Lucas, are you certain?" the leader asked with a firm voice.
Lucas nodded confidently. "Yes, I'm sure."
The leader took a deep breath. He couldn't risk leading his entire group inside without a backup plan. He sent his thoughts through the mental link to Madame Esther, who was commanding the frontal assault, to inform her of their current situation.
"Madame Esther, we've discovered something unusual in the mansion's basement. We suspect a large mirror here might be a gateway to a dimension where the Script-Decipherers are hiding. Entering unprepared could be walking into a trap. We need additional support from you."
After a brief moment of silence, Madame Esther's voice resonated in his mind: "Understood. I'll send reinforcements from the Suppression Division immediately. The infiltration team should prepare for an attack from inside the mansion. I'll handle the situation control at the front. We'll strike with lightning speed."
The infiltration leader acknowledged Madame Esther's orders and began quietly repositioning his team, preparing them for the imminent assault.
Outside the mansion, Madame Esther was coordinating with the other groups, sending mental messages to Edward Cavendish's team and the support unit from the Arcane Science Division. "Groups Two and Three, everyone drink your night-vision potion and wait for the signal from the infiltration team. When they alert us, we'll take our positions and attack simultaneously."
At the same time, Madame Esther sent thoughts to the Arcane Science Division led by Professor Lawrence to prepare a special ritual.
"Professor, when the infiltration team signals, we need your division to perform a magical ritual to extinguish all lights in the mansion. This will allow those of us who've taken the night-vision potion to move undetected."
Professor Lawrence acknowledged and immediately began directing his division members to prepare for the darkness ritual. Everything had to be precisely timed so that all lights in the mansion would be extinguished the moment the infiltration team gave their signal.
Each member drank the night-vision potion to enable them to see clearly in total darkness. Then they brought out a box.
They carefully unfolded a map of the capital city and placed it on the ground, as one member pointed to the mansion's location on the map, marking the focal point for the ritual they were about to perform. Beside the box, a glass of dark ink had been prepared and placed ready for use.
When everything was ready, another member opened the box, revealing a quill pen with an ambiguous color that wasn't clearly visible in the darkness. Only when illuminated could one see that it was deep purple. The member who had been pointing at the map quickly took the quill, dipped its tip into the dark ink, and drew a circle around the point he'd been indicating—the mansion's location on the map.
As soon as he began drawing, a circular wound appeared on his chest. The wound deepened as he continued drawing, becoming more severe with time. When he finished, he quickly returned the quill to the box to stop its side effects. Other members who saw his pain rushed to help, applying a thick reddish-gold salve to the wound, which helped ease his suffering.
Now the ritual site had been established.
Meanwhile, Edward was checking the readiness of his own group. The members had already taken the night-vision potion and were preparing weapons for a silent approach through the back of the mansion. He sent a mental message to Madame Esther: "Group Two is ready for the assault."
In the basement, the infiltration leader watched as his team made their final preparations, waiting for Madame Esther's signal. When the ritual and coordination were ready, they would send a mental message to the Arcane Science Division to extinguish all lights in the mansion.
Soon after, the infiltration leader sent the alert: "Ready to attack. All units prepare."
The moment this message reached everyone's minds, all lights in the mansion went out at once. Darkness engulfed every room, as if the shadow of night had swallowed everything. Madame Esther and Edward led their teams forward silently and cautiously. Each member who had taken the night-vision potion moved without making a sound, avoiding any movement that might alert those in the basement.
While the mansion was plunged into darkness, all infiltration team members who had taken the night-vision potion moved silently to their positions on the upper floors, watching the main entrance and central hall, waiting to coordinate with Madame Esther's and Edward's teams approaching from outside.
Madame Esther's group moved through the front door, confronting the guards who couldn't see them in the darkness. They were able to subdue these guards without making any noise.
The infiltration team members stationed at various points on the second floor helped intercept and block the movements of Script-Decipherers members who tried to enter the central hall, allowing Madame Esther's group to advance unimpeded.
At the rear of the mansion, Edward's group received a signal from the infiltration leader through the mental link: "We're positioned above the central hall and ready to support an attack from inside. You and Madame Esther can attack with full force."
Edward's group, which had entered through the back of the mansion, managed to avoid the guards and reach control points without being detected.
The coordinated plan between the units proceeded silently and cautiously. While the mansion remained in total darkness, the cooperation of all units created immense pressure on the opposition, who remained unaware of what was happening.
After successfully eliminating the mansion guards and clearing the initial areas, the various groups gradually converged at the basement entrance, preparing to invade the hiding place where high-ranking members of the Script-Decipherers were thought to be gathered. However, to avoid the noise of many footsteps, the infiltration leader decided that only a small group—consisting of himself, Madame Esther, Edward, Lieutenant Percival, and key members from each division—would enter. The remaining members would stand at a distance, keeping watch and ready to provide support if necessary.
The infiltration leader signaled quietly for everyone to prepare. The selected members walked silently into the basement corridor. The atmosphere inside was pitch black, but the night-vision potion allowed them to see the path ahead clearly. Each step was taken with extreme caution, avoiding any unnecessary sound or movement.
As they entered the dark and nearly silent basement, Madame Esther sent a mental signal to the remaining members waiting outside: "We're beginning the assault now. Wait at your positions and be ready to respond if anything unusual happens."
The members outside silently acknowledged her order while Madame Esther turned to the small group that had entered the basement with her. Her intense and determined gaze was evident even in the complete darkness.
Everyone nodded silently before beginning to move quietly along the narrow corridor in the basement. Their footsteps were so light they barely touched the floor. As they went deeper, the atmosphere around them grew increasingly oppressive and confined.
When they reached the deepest point, Madame Esther stopped everyone at the corner entrance to what appeared to be the deepest room. All eyes turned to the closed door, from behind which an improbable faint light was seeping out. This illumination contradicted the plan they had prepared.
Edward frowned slightly and sent the thought: "This is truly strange. This light should have been extinguished by Professor Lawrence's ritual."
Madame Esther stared at the light seeping through with a tense expression. She signaled for everyone to remain still while she considered the situation. "Could something be interfering with our ritual?"
Everyone exchanged silent glances, suspicion and caution increasing. The light that continued to shine before them seemed to challenge them to investigate.
"What should we do next?" one member asked through the mental link.
Madame Esther took a deep breath. "We must proceed. Percival, use your power to darken the room. Then Edward, make the people inside momentarily disoriented."
"When we enter, don't let anyone have a chance to call for reinforcements or use any powers. Everyone knows their duty. We'll approach them immediately. If anyone notices suspicious movement, alert through the mental link at once. We need to ensure this assault goes as smoothly as possible."
Everyone nodded silently, preparing for the assault. Madame Esther signaled Percival to use his power immediately.
Percival released his power, plunging the inner room into total darkness in an instant. Then, Edward took his cue, using his power to confuse and disorient the people inside, making them unprepared for the coming attack.
Madame Esther boldly led the charge into the basement without hesitation. The team members were fully prepared, every muscle tense, their powers ready at maximum level to confront any enemies that might be lurking ahead.
When they all entered, however, the basement revealed an unexpected scene. The atmosphere inside was silent and dark, and the people they had expected to find were not in the room.
The room was completely empty. There was no sign of any enemies or Script-Decipherers members, as if everyone had vanished without a trace. Only a large mirror stood prominently in the center of the room. To their eyes, its surface reflected only the darkness around them, creating a strange feeling for the group watching it. It was like a window opening to another dimension, but devoid of shadows or reflections—only emptiness.
Madame Esther turned to Percival. "Cancel your power first."
Percival nodded in acknowledgment. He immediately withdrew the power that had been covering the room. The faint light from the lamps began to illuminate the basement again, revealing details that had been hidden in the shadows.
When the light returned, everyone looked at the mirror again with careful scrutiny. This time, the mirror clearly reflected the surroundings of the basement room, whether the stone walls or the glowing lamps. But what was strange was that the mirror did not reflect any of them at all, as if they had no existence there.