NOVEL WEB ~15~
Hours later, the Crux took over the daemon meat market, and the rest of the guards and employees surrendered. Securing the area and taking care of the victims were now their priorities.
Resentful that the magical girls went along and did the raid themselves, Simon was irate that he wasn't there, and the suspect got away. The location of the daemon meat market was outside of a suburb, hidden in plain sight.
People around the area received apparent attention as they watched people being escorted out of the building by young girls dressed in magical girl costumes.
It even got nationwide press as B.B.C. London was at the scene with their news anchor, recording on his iPhone:
"Aldehyde Rex from B.B.C. News. We are streaming live." He said while filming the situation. “This has been a bizarre moment tonight outside of Holland Park. From what I have gathered, almost everyone woke up to the sound of gunfire and thunderstorms less than an hour ago. As you can see, they are people being put into ambulances... I'm counting about 40 so far.
"Most of them are women and young boys. We had seen many being reunited with their loved ones... And I have been told that the Crown Police are now involved with the situation, but these other girls dressed like anime superheroines were solely responsible for this supposed raid."
He then spots Alpha Crucis instructing a group of Shining Stars, "Maybe the one in yellow is the one in charge. She looks like she is in charge... Excuse me, ma'am!"
Aldehyde walked up towards her as she walked away. Not to avoid her, but she had other things to do.
"Excuse, ma'am. Aldehyde Rex from B.B.C. News. May ask for your updates about the situation?"
Alpha Crucis turned to him without stopping, “The situation?”
“Yes, many people around the area called about--”
Dealing with this press before, Alpha Crucis knew they would be persistent pests. Instead of ignoring them, she stopped walking and told the reporter, "We had a strong lead about a skin trade here in this area. There was indeed a firefight, but that was handled. Right now, those involved with such trade and their customers are being processed with the help of the Crown Police. We will be getting these victims some much-needed help and medical attention. We will disclose everything in this ongoing investigation in 24 hours." Afterward, Alpha Crucis left.
It worked, leaving the reporter satisfied, "And there you have it! We have confirmation about what truly happened here... Such a shocking development here in Holland Park--"
“Hey, are you a reporter!” someone hollered out.
Aldehyde swung around to see a man in tactical gear walking towards him with short black hair, a matching beard, and green eyes. He had a pair of seafoam green angel wings.
“Are you filming?!” He shouted. “I got something to say!”
“Um, sure-- Are you with the police--”
“Simon Deveraux, U.S. Marshal.” He identified.
"U.S. Marshal? This way out of your jurisdiction, isn't it?" Aldehyde wondered.
Simon asked the camera, "You Third Rev bastards want to capture and enslave daemons for profit? As God is my witness, we have just begun. The veil has been lifted, and whatever God you pray to will not save us from us--!"
“Simon, stop it!” Then, another woman in purple shouted in the background as she sprinted.
“I have the right to speak, sentinel!” Simon defended.
"You will when we have a conference! And you are not supposed to be here. Shining Stars!" She summoned as her Shining Stars escorted Simon away.
"I thought we were on the same team, Iota! I guess I was wrong!" Simon shouted while being taken away.
Iota Crucis knew it was tactically dangerous, showing one's real emotion to the press and directly calling out the Third Revelation. She knew Simon was a hothead who wouldn't take no for an answer.
“Iota?” Aldehyde wondered by putting his camera on her face.
With a deep sigh, she identified herself, “Iota Crucis. Crucis Sentinel of the Crux.”
“You looked familiar, but you have a new uniform,” Aldehyde remembered.
"Yes. As one of us had said, we are still investigating and will have an official press conference in 24 hours." Iota Crucis summarized quickly as she walked away from Aldehyde.
"So, the long-fabled all-female organization 'The Crux' has shown itself after many decades in secret. It all makes sense, seeing such domination. Brutal, but in my honest opinion, much necessary." He praised. "Ending the stream. I will be back with the press conference about their investigation. This is Aldehyde Rex from B.B.C. News. Holland Park.”