The Extra's Rise

The emergency meeting convened in our home's communication chamber within the hour. Rose and Cecilia had been pulled away from their respective guild administration duties, while magical holograms flickered to life as Rachel and Reika joined us from their distant locations.

"This better be genuinely urgent," Rachel said through the holographic projection, though her concern was evident despite the slight delay in transmission. "I'm in the middle of purifying a particularly stubborn miasma contamination that's been resisting conventional methods."

"It is," Seraphina replied with uncharacteristic terseness, her ice-blue eyes reflecting stress that went deeper than simple professional concern. "Ren has been missing for three days."

The shift in atmosphere was immediate. All five women understood the implications—Ren was the heir to the Kagu family, one of the former Seven Superpowers of the world and still the second most powerful family in the Eastern continent. His disappearance carried ramifications that extended far beyond personal concern.

"Tell us everything," Rose said with sharp attention, her analytical mind already working through potential scenarios. "What were the circumstances of his disappearance?"

Seraphina activated the holographic display, showing a detailed map of the Eastern Continent with specific locations marked. "He was traveling between Kagu family estates in his personal transport vehicle, a routine journey he's made dozens of times. Standard security protocols were in place—armed escort, communication checkpoints, predetermined route with backup alternatives."

"Who was the last person to see him?" Cecilia asked, her crimson eyes scanning the tactical information with increasing intensity.

"The security checkpoint at Millhaven Transit Hub," Seraphina replied. "His convoy passed through right on schedule at 14:30 local time. When they failed to reach the next checkpoint six hours later, search operations began immediately."

"And they found what?" Reika's holographic form leaned forward with concern.

"His transport vehicle, abandoned on a secondary route with no signs of struggle," Seraphina said with frustration that made the air around her seem to chill slightly. "All security systems were still active, no damage to the vehicle, no indication that the passengers had been forced to leave. They simply... vanished."

I studied the route display more carefully, noting details that painted an increasingly disturbing picture. "This doesn't look like a normal kidnapping or assassination attempt. Anyone targeting the Kagu heir would expect significant resistance from his security detail."

"Exactly," Seraphina confirmed with grim agreement. "Ren's escort included two Immortal-rank combatants. And Ren himself is at peak Immortal-rank."

"The timing is suspicious," Rose acknowledged with analytical precision. "Political rivals might see this as an opportunity to eliminate the next generation of Kagu leadership while the family is weakened."

"But which rivals have the capability to make Ren disappear without trace?" Cecilia pointed out darkly. "Even with Selene incapacitated, the Kagu family still commands significant resources and protection."

I felt a familiar cold weight settling in my stomach as I considered possibilities that extended beyond simple political maneuvering. "The timing bothers me. Luna just left for the Southern Continent to meet with Tiamat, and now Ren disappears during what should have been a routine journey. That could be coincidence, but..."

"But coincidences involving people close to you tend to be anything but coincidental," Reika finished with quiet understanding.

"What's your instinct telling you?" Rachel asked directly, her maternal concern evident even through the holographic transmission. "You've developed good intuition for when events are connected to larger patterns."

I considered the question carefully, weighing the available information against the broader context of recent events. "Something about this feels significant. Not just political maneuvering or family rivalry, but part of something bigger that we haven't identified yet."

"The method bothers me most," I continued, studying the tactical display. "Making people vanish without triggering any defensive systems means that either a powerful Gift was involved or Alyssara herself."

"Which means investigation is necessary," Seraphina said with the kind of cold determination that marked someone preparing for action. "I need to return to the Eastern Continent immediately. The Mount Hua sect will expect my involvement in any serious search effort."

"You're not going alone," I said firmly, the decision crystallizing as I spoke. "If this is connected to larger threats, having backup could be crucial. And if it's not, having additional perspectives might help identify details that single-investigator approaches would miss."

"Arthur," Rose said with careful concern, "you're needed here for guild administration and political coordination. Disappearing to the Eastern Continent right now could create complications with the territorial absorption processes."

"The guild operations can function without me for a few weeks," I replied with growing certainty. "Rose, you and Reika have been handling most of the practical administration anyway. And if this situation is what my instincts suggest it might be, addressing it quickly could prevent much larger problems."

Rachel's hologram shifted as she considered the broader implications. "The Eastern Continent will be destabilized if the second strongest force is weakened even more."

"And if this is part of a larger pattern targeting specific individuals or families," Seraphina added grimly, "then waiting for more information could mean allowing the situation to escalate beyond manageable levels."

"I agree with Arthur's assessment," Cecilia said after a moment of consideration. "The potential risks of ignoring this outweigh the administrative inconvenience of temporarily redistributing responsibilities."

"Rose and I can handle guild coordination," she continued with characteristic confidence. "Rachel, how critical is your immediate presence for the purification work?"

"I can delegate the technical aspects to other Purelight users for a few weeks," Rachel replied with reluctant acceptance. "The contamination will take longer to address, but it won't get worse without my direct intervention."

"Should I return to help with investigation?" Reika asked through her hologram. "My territorial administration can function with deputy oversight."

"Not yet," I decided after brief consideration. "If this develops into something requiring additional support, we'll contact everyone immediately. But for now, having people positioned across multiple continents provides better strategic flexibility."

"Agreed," Seraphina said with appreciation for the tactical reasoning. "If something is targeting specific individuals or families, spreading our assets reduces the chance of comprehensive disruption."

"When do we leave?" I asked, already mentally organizing the preparations necessary for travel to the Eastern Continent.

"Tomorrow morning," Seraphina replied without hesitation. "Every hour of delay makes the trail colder and reduces our chances of finding useful information."

"I'll arrange high-speed transport and secure communications," Rose said with efficient planning already evident in her voice. "Quantum-encrypted channels and emergency extraction protocols in case the situation escalates."

"Emergency supplies and backup equipment," Cecilia added with practical focus. "If you're walking into an unknown threat situation, having redundant resources could be crucial."

"Coordinate with the Kagu family council," Rachel suggested through her hologram. "They'll have detailed information about Ren's specific itinerary and any unusual activity in their territory."

"Already planned," Seraphina confirmed.

"And Arthur," Reika said with quiet intensity, "be careful. Your instincts about connected patterns have been accurate before, but they've also led you into situations that nearly got you killed."

"I'll be careful," I promised, though we all knew that careful had relative meaning when dealing with threats that could make Superpower heirs vanish without trace.

"No unnecessary risks," Rachel added with maternal firmness. "Ren is important, but you can't help him if you get yourself captured or killed in the process."

"Understood," I replied, appreciating the concern while recognizing the impossibility of guaranteeing safety when walking into unknown situations.

"Regular check-ins," Cecilia insisted with characteristic intensity. "Every twelve hours minimum, more frequently if circumstances permit. If we don't hear from you on schedule, we mobilize everyone for rescue operations."

"Agreed," Seraphina said with understanding.

It was time for us to go to the East.