Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye
Chapter 418 - 418: The Opportunity for Reconciliation

Luca didn't spend too much time thinking. Since he couldn't guess the purpose of Nova's call, he decided to ask her directly.

"What's the matter? Why did you call me?"

As soon as the call was answered, Luca asked plainly.

"We have an opportunity for collaboration again, and I'd like to join forces with you to fight a powerful enemy," Nova replied in the familiar tone Luca knew well.

Her words carried a hint of allure, and if Luca weren't cautious, he could easily be misled by her.

"Fight a powerful enemy? Who exactly are we up against?"

Luca asked, his mind racing to think things through.

If Nova wanted to collaborate with him against a powerful enemy, it wasn't likely to be Morning Star or any other official organization. Of course, it couldn't be anyone from Zenith Technology Company either. Most likely, it was some formidable monster or perhaps a wild madman.

"You don't need to test me; I'll tell you the name of the person directly. It's Devitt, a senator from the Via Empire!"

Nova, unusually direct, didn't beat around the bush.

She immediately named Senator Devitt and emphasized that he was from the Via Empire.

Luca's expression quickly turned serious.

He suddenly realized that the Devitt he was hearing about was probably the same senator he had encountered on the snowy mountains.

"Where did you meet him? And why have you become enemies with him?"

Luca's tone grew more serious than before.

The two questions he asked were critical.

Only by answering them could he determine whether Nova was really on his side.

Luca had already known that Zenith Technology Company had formed an alliance with the Via Empire,

which meant Nova's proposed collaboration could very well be a trap.

He had to be cautious.

"I met Senator Devitt at the foot of the snowy mountains. He was seriously wounded, and I brought him back to the Daskhollow base. Almost at the same time, I received a new order from headquarters. I was told I must imprison Senator Devitt at Daskhollow base."

Nova paused here, but Luca immediately interrupted her.

"You failed in the end. He managed to escape."

"That's right, I failed in the end," Nova said with a slightly regretful tone. "That's why I need to team up with you. If we work together, we'll find Senator Devitt quickly and eliminate him."

"You'd better hold on a second."

Luca caught a slip in her words.

"You just said the order from headquarters was to keep Senator Devitt confined to the base. It doesn't sound like you were supposed to eliminate him."

"That was the previous order!" Nova replied without hesitation.

"The Via Empire has violated its agreement with Zenith Technology Company. We must show them our strength—only then will they be compelled to honor the terms we agreed upon."

As she explained, she sent over an image.

It was a directive—an official order from Zenith Technology Company headquarters.

"So it turns out partnering with the Via Empire wasn't such a smart move after all,"

Luca said, his tone laced with irony.

"Zenith Technology Company never had any real leverage to make them keep their word."

If it weren't for the fact that he still needed to work with Nova,

he likely would've spoken far more scornfully.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Nova replied casually.

"If this operation succeeds, the Via Empire will have no choice but to respect our power.

Besides, this mission benefits you too—you'll finally get your revenge."

Nova was now fairly confident that Luca would agree to work with her.

Her tone had become noticeably more relaxed.

"That's true. I'm willing to cooperate," Luca nodded.

"But first, we need to find him."

"I've already sent my subordinates to search the surrounding area.

Senator Devitt is in bad shape—he shouldn't have been able to get very far.

Plus, he's in urgent need of chaotic energy right now."

"I see… That makes sense. I'll send people out too,"

Luca replied.

"Let's stay in close contact."

Just like that, the two quickly finalized the details of their cooperation.

Each party began to take action.

Nova deployed all the guards stationed at Daskhollow Base.

These troops were ordered to search the regions with higher concentrations of monsters.

Meanwhile, Luca remained in the archives, digging through data.

According to the intel Nova had provided, the places Senator Devitt might appear were almost certainly documented in the archives.

Northern Territory Morning Star hadn't cleared every monster-infested zone.

Some areas simply had too many creatures—

completely purging them exceeded the capacity of the Morning Star forces.

By late that night, Luca finally narrowed down three highly probable locations where Senator Devitt could be found.

These locations were all to the north of Daskhollow Base.

The most promising of the three was a large town near the northern exit of Daskhollow Gorge—

a settlement known as Gorge Town.

70 kilometers southeast of Refuge 102 lay a cave infused with chaotic energy, known by Northern Territory Morning Star as the "Lightless Abyss."

110 kilometers southwest of Refuge 102 stood a sprawling metropolis with a population exceeding one million—Lakeside City.

The situation in Lakeside was extremely complicated. It housed not only surviving humans and factions of Morning Star,

but the largest presence by far was that of monsters.

The number of monsters in the city rivaled that of a small-scale monster horde.

Luca even suspected that a small demonic nest might exist in the heart of the city.

After organizing the data, he immediately sent everything over to Nova.

A few minutes later, her reply came through.

"I've already searched Gorge Town. Senator Devitt definitely isn't there.

Lakeside City is just too far away from us, and the situation there is far too dangerous.

Let's go search the Lightless Abyss tomorrow."

"No problem. See you at the gate of the refuge at 6:00 a.m.," Luca replied.

He had no objection to Nova's assessment.

In fact, he himself had been torn between choosing the Lightless Abyss or Gorge Town.

Now that she'd helped rule out one of the options, the decision was easy—Lightless Abyss it was.

With the plan set, Luca went to find Donlow.

He briefly explained his plan and the reasons behind it.

Donlow stared at him coolly.

"You really think Nova is trustworthy?"

"At the very least, the intel she's provided has been reliable.

And a senator from the Via Empire poses a serious threat to us.

We have to eliminate him as soon as possible," Luca answered candidly.

Of course, he knew full well that Nova couldn't be fully trusted.

But under the current circumstances, one more ally was better than one more enemy.

Donlow gave a slow nod.

"In that case, let's go together.

I recently unlocked another hidden class—Shadow Mage.

I can be a huge asset to you in the Lightless Abyss."

Donlow's proposal made Luca hesitate slightly.

"You weren't planning to let me come with you, were you?

You think I'd slow you down, don't you?"

There was a faint edge of agitation in Donlow's voice.

Luca quickly shook his head.

"It's not like that at all! I don't think you'd hold me back,"

Luca said quickly. "The reason I hesitated is because I don't think Nova would be willing to work with you."

"Because I'm a member of Morning Star?"

Donlow asked, his voice calm but edged.

Luca didn't respond.

But his silence was confirmation enough.

Donlow let out a cold chuckle.

"That just makes Nova even less trustworthy in my eyes.

But if you trust him, then go ahead and team up with him.

I won't enter the Lightless Abyss—I'll stand guard at the entrance, and that's it."

He had already taken a step back.

There was nothing more Luca could say.

"Since you've made up your mind, then so be it.

But I will inform Nova of your decision—just so there are no misunderstandings later on."

This time, it was Donlow who said nothing.

And so, Luca, Nova, and Donlow spent the rest of the night making preparations.

At 6:00 a.m. sharp the next morning, Luca appeared at the entrance of the refuge as agreed.

Nova had already been waiting there for a few minutes.

"Showing up early doesn't count as being punctual," Luca said with a smile.

"When you're visiting someone's home, arriving early can be considered rude."

"I'm not here to visit you,"

Nova replied with a smile, brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear.

The banter between the two made Donlow visibly uncomfortable.

"Enough with the small talk! Let's focus on the mission,"

he said coldly, stepping between Nova and Luca.

He positioned himself in such a way that Nova was blocked from Luca's view.

The smile on Nova's face vanished instantly.

"You're not participating in the operation, so I don't think you have the right to be part of this conversation."

"I am participating," Donlow shot back.

"I'm just not going into the Lightless Abyss. I'm staying at the entrance to make sure you two stay safe.

I'm not as reckless as you are."

The tension between Donlow and Nova was palpable.

Luca jumped in quickly to defuse the situation.

"I think both your approaches make sense.

But let's not argue here at the gates. We can discuss the mission details on the way to the Lightless Abyss."

Donlow and Nova exchanged one final icy glance—

then, without a word, they both got into the vehicle.

It was obvious—there was no shortage of hostility between the two.

Luca believed that the tension stemmed from the longstanding enmity between Morning Star and Zenith Technology Company.

But in truth, he was the real reason behind their conflict.

Donlow had always cared deeply about Luca.

Having Susie as a rival was already enough of a headache for her—

Nova's arrival had pushed her patience to the brink.

As for Nova, she had always harbored the ambition of keeping Luca under her control.

Donlow was clearly disrupting that plan.