And from the car, Jessica answers me, "Probably 9 or 10 more."

"That's a lot." I say, "It won't be easy to go to every single one of them to search for her."

"Probably not." Grey says and sighs.

"So … how did you two know that out of all her lairs, she was here?" I ask.

"Well, we had left some monsters of ours to search for her – this is where they led us." Grey replies. "And if you think the same strategy would work again, I really doubt it."

"Tsk!"

I get his point. Dues probably already knew she was being sniffed out like that. In fact, I bet she let us come here just to show that we can't beat her at this game. If we implement the same strategy the next time, Dues isn't going to let those creatures find her, and it'll be a complete waste of time.

"Well," As she flies out of the lair we had broken in, Rain asks, "Any progress, Azazel?"

"Nothing except negative progress." She furrows her brows as if she doesn't understand what I mean, so I clarify, "The strategy these two used the last time wouldn't work this time."

"Well, it IS Dues we are dealing with, that's kinda obvious." She says.

"By the way, where's, uh, your subordinate?" I ask, fearing the answer might not be very pleasant.

"She'll be here in a few seconds." However, she answers with that calmly. Well, at least that means she let Aknin remain in a state where she can fly on her own. So, she might not be completely useless in the upcoming 'endeavors'.

"So anyway, what's the plan?" Rain asks with an expectant gaze.

That's the question, isn't it? That's the question.

*****

Rain Green has never been the brainy-type. But Azazel – that guy is trouble. Not to mention those two idiots Jessica and Grey are great at getting things done, so he also has trustable lackeys with him. Trying to escape from him might be harder than I had thought, which means that I can't let the situation come to that. I can't escape from him if it comes down to it, so I have to make sure he never finds me in the first place, which is, admittedly, not going to be easy.

I have to also proceed with my plan. Can't let that delay or the whole purpose of running away would be nothing. And for that, this green crystal I have in my hand is going to be very useful.

However, there is just one thing I am concerned about. Aknin probably saw me taking this crystal. She saw me leaving in a hurry but still making sure to take this crystal. I didn't tell her anything about this but she might be suspicious enough from just that to tell them. And once that happen, Azazel will have a clue to finding me.

d.a.m.nit!

*****

"A green crystal, you say?" I contemplate after hearing Aknin's concerns about that crystal.

Dues was in a hurry but she took the crystal with her, that probably means that the crystal is important for what she is about to do. And what she is about to do, well, that's the thing, isn't it? We know her end goal but not how she plans to reach it. Just what is it she is planning to do?

On a general basis, she believes that Irium Glice and Angel Roswaisa will end up destroying our race. Now, she will try to make sure everything that they require for doing so is given to them. And what is required by them? By gaining what exactly would they become powerful enough to destroy the entire Demon race? A green crystal, could it be that thing they need for it? If so, what is the green crystal?

"Hey, you two," I turn to Jessica and Grey and they turn to me as they hear me say that. So, I continue, "Is there any underground facilities in this city you know of who deals with crystals? Maybe … some jewelry maker or something?"

"Well, yes, there is one." Grey looks surprised and kinda stupid as he answers.

"Who?" I ask and, by the answer given to the question, I understand why Grey made that kind of expression.

"Us." – is the answer Grey gives to me.

Well, that's certainly something.

"Do you sell it to a shop or directly to people?" I inquire further.

"We have our own shop … or shops, I guess." Jessica says.

"How long has it been since you visited all of them?"

"Four days." Grey says, "Ever since Angel Roswaisa was first summoned, we have been too busy trying to make sure nothing bad happens … which you know all too well we failed pretty badly at."

Their eyes turn downcast, and I can certainly understand why. But,

"You can beat yourselves up later. Right now, we need to pay a visit to all your shops." I say and motion Rain and Aknin to sit in the car.

"By the way, Grey, Jessica, where exactly where you when the whole scuffle between Aknin and those three happened?"

"Busy with calls from our shops we just told you about." Grey says, "Back then we didn't know but now we do, Dues had paid people to come and buy stuff from all our shops so they run out of stock and we become too busy trying to refill the stock."

Is that so? So she tried to make sure these two can't come in the way of Aknin killing them. But, why would she, wouldn't she rather want them to survive and kill us? Unless …

"Maybe the purpose of all that wasn't to stall you two, at least, not the primary purpose anyway." I say.

"Then what would it be?" Rain asks.

I reply with the only answer I can reply with, "Well, we are going to find out, aren't we?"

*****