The sun hung high, casting stark shadows across the clearing. Heat shimmered off the dry ground, making the guards' figures waver in the distance like mirages. I lay flat atop a rocky bluff, hidden by a sparse patch of dry grass. The world was too bright, too sharp. I blinked slowly, letting my augmented senses adjust.
Since I knew I'll be taking out quite a lot of targets this time unlike when I was infiltrating the SS Grudwar I was armed with all of the gear I had
Whispering darts tipped with neurotoxin, smoke pellets, multiple types of flashpowder grenades, hexwire traps, all three of my knives, "Mumei" fastened to my back, multiple types of useful alchemical concoctions and my favorite tool the wrist mounted bolt launcher with a reeling mechanism that I could use in combat as well as a grapple for climbing.
The voices of nearby guards were carried faintly on the wind. Using my hearing, I tuned in to their conversation. The words began as indistinct murmurs until I stilled my breath, focusing with practiced ease.
"I can't believe they're really from the Rivalin guild. I thought Orland was just blowing smoke, but... I mean, did you SEE that guy earlier?"
The first guard's voice carried a mix of disbelief and admiration.
"Which one? The fancy old guy with a noble's swagger? Stepped out of that sweet ride we'll never even touch, let alone own?"
The second guard's tone was light, laced with sarcasm.
"Who else? Expensive coat, ornamental cane—looked like he just stepped out of a palace. Bet the cane alone costs more than we'll make this decade"
"Probably enchanted, too. Turns into a sword or something..."
The second one muttered, sneering slightly.
"Rivalins don't do ordinary, right?"
"Orland doesn't"
The third one said. His voice was gruff and older, carrying the weight of a man who'd seen too much. He grunted.
"Makes you wonder what he's selling them. Whatever it is, it's big. Bigger than anything else we've ever handled in this ramshackle dump, that's for sure."
"Yeah, big enough to make him richer than all of us put together..."
The first one mused.
"Imagine what it'd be like, being that rich. Walking into a place and having everyone fall over themselves to serve you"
The second guard snorted.
"You? You'd blow it all in a month on women and booze...actually just women now that I think about it"
"Better than standing out here roasting in this heat!"
The first one shot back.
"What would you do, then?"
"Buy a ship of course!"
The second one said without hesitation.
"Sail off somewhere far from this shitty job. No crates, no smugglers, no eyesores like you two"
The older guard let out a low laugh.
"You? On a ship? You'd be thrown overboard before you made it a day. Hell, you probably wouldn't even make it out of port"
The second guard shrugged.
"At least I'd die doing something interesting"
The older guard groaned.
"You're an idiot. Both of you are idiots"
"Must be nice, though..."
The first one said after a moment. His voice was softer now, wistful.
"Being that rich. Never having to guard a damn thing again, absolutely zero worries about making enough coin to last the month..."
I shifted, watching their movements. One leaned lazily against a post, the second still squatted by the crates, fiddling with a loose strap. The third paced back and forth, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. None of them were paying attention.
((Focus...))
I slid down from the bluff, each step deliberate, controlled. My footfalls landed with precision on patches of soft earth, avoiding stray rocks or brittle leaves. The knife rested in my grip, its cold weight steadying my thoughts.
The first guard stretched, yawning, his gaze sweeping lazily over the clearing.
"What a life that would-"
He didn't finish.
*Ffft!**Thnk!*
I closed the distance silently, my hand snapping over his mouth.
"Mmphf!!"
His muffled gasp barely escaped as I drove the Ballisong blade into his ribs, slipping it between the fifth and sixth rib. The angle was precise, slicing through muscle and cartilage to puncture his lung. His body shuddered against mine as he fought for breath. I pulled the blade out with a sharp twist before driving it into his neck, severing his carotid artery.
*Splurch!*
Blood dripped in a warm droop as his body went limp. I eased him to the ground slowly, avoiding any noise that might alert the others.
The second guard crouched by the crates, humming softly to himself as he fiddled with a strap. I crouched low, moving through the shadows, my steps inaudible.
((Nice and quiet now...))
*Shink!*
"Hmm? What were you about t-"
The sound of the blade snapping open was no louder than the rustle of leaves. Just before the second guard could turn to find out what happened to his friend I crept behind him, shifting my weight to keep the movement fluid.
*Whssh!*
My arm arced forward, the blade slicing cleanly across his throat. Warm blood spilled over my hand as his windpipe and major arteries gave way.
"Guh!"
He tried to cry out, but the sound dissolved into a wet gurgle. His hands clawed at his neck, smearing blood across his uniform as he crumpled forward, lifeless.
The older guard froze, his head snapping toward the sound. His eyes widened as they darted between the fallen bodies. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword, knuckles whitening.
"What the—?! Who's there?!"
His voice cracked, panic rising as he unsheathed his sword, unsure of what happened as I was already gone leaving behind only the dead carcasses of his companions. The blade scraped noisily against the scabbard.
((Sloppy...))
I stepped into his blind spot, my movements calculated and deliberate. His unsheathed sword tasting nothing but empty air.
""...""
*Shhhk!*
I slipped past his defenses, the Ballisong glinting in the harsh sunlight as it drove into the base of his skull, just below the occipital bone. The blade punctured deep, severing the brainstem with a sickening *crunch*. His body went rigid, a choked gasp escaping his lips before he collapsed in a heap.
The clearing fell silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves and the distant crash of waves.
I wiped the blood from the blade on the older guard's tunic, spinning and snapping it closed with a sharp *click!* and slipping it back into my coat.
Red Ember anchorage lay ahead—The facade of abandonment completely discarded for the hubbub of clandestine activities now. This is where Hanuman Orland was making his deal, trading Mekhanite assets to the Rivalin guild, and where he'll breathe his last.
((Ok let's move on...))
I hid the bodies of the fallen guards before melting into the shade, adjusting my cloak as I moved toward the nearby camps and buildings.
I retrieved a vial from my belt—a potion to amplify my mana reserves. The thick blue liquid glowed faintly as I uncorked it.
((I'll need a small boost just in case things go sideways and direct combat is unavoidable))
I drank it in a single swig. It coursed through me like liquid fire, reigniting my magical reserves. The faint hum of latent power under my skin intensified.
((Objective one: Cut off their escape routes. Disable vehicles and ships...I can handle anyone running on foot but carriages, ships and cars will be a problem))
Sneakily stalking along the shoreline I arrived at a cave-like opening, it was the storage place for the vehicles—horse-drawn carriages parked in neat rows, their wooden frames reinforced with metal to handle heavy cargo. Six guards lingered around them: one woman, five men. I recognized the group from my reconnaissance over the past four days.
"Man, it's been a while since we hosted a deal this big"
I spotted one of the guards ahead, a young man, leaning casually against a wheel. He was a member of the group of 5 men and 1 woman I've observed over the past 4 days, they seemed to operate in this anchorage even without big events like the one today.
"Big deal, big risks"
The woman replied, adjusting her belt, which had a hand axe fastened to it.
"Hope Orland knows what he's doing. If this goes sideways..."
"It won't!"
An elder guard interjected, his tone curt.
"Just keep your eyes open"
((Not that you'll live long enough to know...))
I crouched behind a cluster of barrels near the entrance, watching their movements. One of the guards shifted closer to the carriages, adjusting a tarp over the Rivalins' sleek mana-powered car. The vehicle stood out even among the rugged carriages around it—a blend of ingenious industrial engineering and arcane craftsmanship. Its glossy black frame was reinforced with brass trim, and shimmering blue steam puffed intermittently from its chimney-like exhaust. Mana-conducting runes etched along its hood pulsed faintly, a testament to the arcane engine humming beneath its surface.
The guard grumbled, tugging the tarp into place as though he didn't trust the others to keep their curiosity hidden.
((That's my first mark...))
I pulled a throwing flask filled with corrosive acid from my belt and hurled it toward the back corner of the cave.
*Crash!*
*Sizzle* *Sizzle*
The flask shattered against a crate, releasing a hissing cloud of smoke and acid.
"What the hell was that?!"
The young guard shouted, running toward the noise.
I struck while his attention was diverted.
*Thwick!**Thud!*
Unclasping one of them from my belt, I took out a whispering dart and flung it at the first guard.
"Gu-"
It hit him in the neck, the neurotoxin silencing him mid-yell as he collapsed into a convulsing heap, foaming at the mouth as his eyes went blood shot and started to bleed.
I slipped into the cave's shadows, closing in on the woman as she turned toward the commotion.
"What happened did something break?!"
*Shlick!*
"Guh!"
In the middle of her question intended for the first guard, my blade slid cleanly between her ribs. She gasped, eyes wide, before collapsing silently to the ground.
The remaining guards scrambled, their panic growing.
*Snap!* *Squelch!*
"Argh!"
I threw a Hexwire trap at their feet. It coiled and crackled, releasing a burst of electrified wires and pins that lacerated three of their group instantly and brutally causing blood to arc in crimson ropes as they all collapsed into a bloody heap paralyzed and awaiting their deaths.
"Argh?! Just what is going on her-HURGH!"
*Shlick!*
The fourth stumbled backward, sword drawn, only to meet the tip of my blade as I plunged it into his throat.
The incapacitated guards twitched helplessly. I finished them quickly, my movements methodical and silent.
((No alarms. No witnesses...that's good))
I took a moment to double check if anyone had been alerted but it seems that my methods eliminated them well before they could let out a scream loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
""...""
I pressed simple, ethereal [Fire Runes] into the wheels and axles of the vehicles, pressing my palm against each sigil to activate it. The glowing symbols faded, leaving no visible trace. If anyone attempted to move these vehicles, they'd ignite in an instant. The runes can also be activated all at once with a snap of my fingers, turning all of the vehicles here into a pyrotechnic show.
I slipped away from the carriage yard, satisfied that the carriages and the Rivalin's Mana powered vehicle were rigged to ignite at my command. My next targets were the two ships docked at the anchorage: the gaudy vessel Orland had arrived on and the SS Grudwar, which had ferried in the illicit Mekhanite made wetware.
((The ships next, disabling them will cut off any retreat by sea. Without their mobility, they're stranded...))
The anchorage was alive with activity. Dockworkers shouted orders as they unloaded crates from the SS Grudwar, their movements brisk and purposeful. Guards patrolled in groups, their eyes scanning the busy port with sharp vigilance. Sailors on Orland's ostentatious ship barked at one another as they made preparations, while the Rivalin representatives lingered near the docks, surrounded by a handful of Orland's guard as Orland himself was busy talking their ears off.
((Crowded. Perfect the sounds will mask me...))
The bustling activity of the anchorage played right to my advantage. The shouts, the crash of crates, and the rhythmic creak of ships at dock masked any sound I made earlier and nobody has noticed the missing guards as of now.
((Let's thin the herd a bit))
I crouched low, keeping to the shadows cast by stacks of cargo crates. A pair of guards stood chatting near a pile of barrels, their rifles slung casually over their shoulders.
I retrieved some smoke pellets from my belt—a small, grayish marble not even the size of my fingertips. Chucking it, I watched it pop with a small *crackle* before a gray smog started to fill the area. The mist expanded, cloaking my approach.
"...What's with this fog all of a sudden?"
One of them muttered, peering into the thickening gloom.
*Whish!*
I moved faster than their eyes could follow, my Ballisong knife flicking open with a faint metallic *click*.
*Shnk!*
"Guh!-"
The blade slid into the first guard's throat, severing his trachea. He let out a faint gurgle before collapsing.
"What th-?!"
The second guard barely had time to react, fumbling for his weapon as he backed into the barrels.
*Thwip!*
A whispering dart found his throat, embedding itself with surgical precision. He fell, convulsing and seizing on the ground with foam rising from his mouth, his hand clawing weakly at the hilt before going still.
The neurotoxin wasn't my most merciful way of ending a life but it didn't draw out the agony excessively.
I dragged their bodies behind the barrels, out of sight. The smoke pellet's mist began to dissipate as I continued forward.
A patrol of three guards approached, their boots crunching against the gravel path. I scaled a nearby stack of crates with a leap, landing silently atop them. The vantage point gave me a clear view of their movements.
((Yeah I can manage that...))
I retrieved a tether bolt from my belt—a slim bolt with a coiled cable attached. Aiming my compact wrist mounted bolt launcher, I fired.
*Thwip!*
*EEEE!**Squelch!*
"G-!"
The arrow struck the lead guard in the chest, the barbed tip embedding itself in his armor. Before he could cry out, I activated the tether's mechanism.
*Zzzzz!*
The cable reeled him in with a violent jerk, slamming him into the crates where I perched.
*Shnk!*
"-!"
My blade met his neck before he could make a sound.
His companions turned, startled by the sudden absence of their leader.
"Where—?"
*CRACK!*
A concussive flashpowder grenade exploded at their feet, sending one guard sprawling. The other staggered, clutching his ears. I descended like a shadow, landing behind the dazed man.
*Shnk!*
A quick thrust ended him, my knife finding the gap in his armor. The last guard scrambled to his feet, reaching for his weapon.
*Wham!*
"GAH!"
I slammed into him with superhuman strength, my fist creating a visible crater in his armor, pinning him against the floor. His head snapped back as I struck, puking out warm blood and bile as his body went limp.
""That's another three down...""
I continued to dispatch any living person at the edge of the crowds, just out of sight and hearing distance, quickly and just barely quiet enough not to send them all into a full alert while simultaneously making my way towards where the ships were docked.
A ship was within sight now—Orland's gaudy monstrosity of a vessel. A half-dozen guards patrolled the gangplank and surrounding dock. Beyond them, sailors bustled about, loading crates of contraband aboard.
I moved toward the ornate ship, my steps silent on the wooden planks. A group of guards stood at the gangway, their conversation muffled by the noise of the bustling port.
"Keep watch here"
One of them barked.
"Nobody gets close to the captain's ship."
((...))
I retrieved another tether bolt from my belt, its sturdy steel fibers fastening to the wheel circular reeling mechanism.
*Thwip!**Kak!*
The barbed bolt lodged into the hull as the reeling mechanism pulled me up, I latched onto the ship's railing and climbed swiftly, avoiding the guarded gangway entirely.
Usually I wouldn't need this to climb onto a place but the ship's hull was wet and had little places where I could grab onto.
Once aboard, I slipped into the shadows of the main deck. Sailors bustled about, tying ropes and checking supplies. I stayed low, moving toward the ship's hold.
*Murmur* *Murmur*
The guards were spaced out, their focus on their tasks. I darted between cover, using my superhuman speed to cross open areas faster than any eye could follow.
I placed [Fire Runes] into several critical areas that were sure to sink the vessel once I activated them, pressing my palm against each sigil to set them up. The runes glowed faintly before fading into the wood, their power primed to ignite with a simple gesture.
((This ship won't be going anywhere))
I slipped back to the deck, taking out two sailors who wandered too close to my path.
*Click!* *Shnk!**Thud!*
"Haa-!"
The first fell silently, my Ballisong knife to his throat.
"What the? Who are-!"
*Shing!* *Shnk!*
The second managed a gasp before my switchblade found his heart. I dragged their bodies into the shadows and climbed back over the railing, descending to the dock.
I slipped away from Orland's garish ship, my steps silent on the wooden planks as I approached the SS Grudwar. The ship loomed above me, its sails furled tight, its hull weathered and scarred by countless voyages. Sailors bustled about, unloading crates and barrels filled with smuggled goods, their voices a low hum beneath the creak of ropes and the slap of waves against the dock.
((Functional. Efficient. Unlike Orland's floating peacock))
I couldn't help but think as the familiar sight of the SS Grudwar was much more pleasant than Orland's obviously overcompensating vessel.
I crouched low, hugging the shadows of stacked cargo. A pair of guards passed by, their attention focused on the unloading process rather than their surroundings. I waited until they turned their backs, then darted forward faster than any normal eye could track, slipping between the barrels and crates stacked near the gangplank.
((Let's not overstay. I just need the key points))
I crouched near the bow, my fingers brushing the rough wood of the ship's hull as I pressed the first [Fire Rune]. The sigil burned faintly as I pressed my palm against it, embedding the magic deep into the structure. The rune disappeared, leaving the planks unmarred to the naked eye.
A sailor stepped into view, muttering under his breath as he adjusted a pulley. His head turned sharply at the faint *creak!* of my footsteps on the wood, but I was already gone, moving soundlessly to the ship's stern. I slipped behind him, my knife flashing in the sunlight.
*Shhk!*
"Gu-!"
The blade pierced his throat cleanly, and I caught his body before it hit the ground, easing it out of sight beneath a tarp. Blood pooled on the deck, but it was a minor concern—there was no one close enough to notice.
((Focus. The stern next...))
I reached the back of the ship, carving another [Fire Rune] into the base of the main mast and activating it.
((Done))
I emerged from below deck and moved swiftly down to the dock. The SS Grudwar was primed—fire ready to consume it from the inside out. I melted back into the shadows, my gaze fixed on the bustling activity of the anchorage.
((First objective is done. Now it's time to clean house.))
The chaos of the anchorage roared around me—dockworkers shouting over the groaning creak of crates, guards stomping in staggered patrols, and sailors shouting orders to each other on the decks. They were blissfully unaware of the storm about to tear through them.
I retrieved a small glass vial from a pouch at my side, the emerald liquid inside swirling with a faint, luminous glow. A standard stamina potion, brewed from virility grass. The alchemical formula would flood my body with raw energy, pushing my already enhanced limits even further.
((Better to leave nothing to chance))
I uncorked the vial and downed its contents in one smooth motion. A sharp, invigorating heat coursed through my veins, coiling through my muscles and filling me with an almost electric surge of vitality. My vision sharpened even further, my reflexes humming with newfound energy.
""Haaa~ that hit the spot""
I let out a small refreshed breath as I prepared for the massacre that was about to occur.
The guards patrolled in groups of three, their routes overlapping slightly near the main loading area. I perched on the roof of a warehouse, watching their movements with predatory focus.
I leapt down, landing silently behind the rear guard.
*Shing!**Squelch!*
"Mumei" sang with a bloodthirsty glee as it's curved blade slid into the base of his skull. The others turned around in shock as they heard the *Thud!* of their comrade's body hitting the ground.
But before they could properly respond, I hurled a smoke pellet into their midst.
*Krak!* *Pssh!*
"We're under attack!"
"Gah! Can't breathe..."
The cloud erupted, choking and disorienting them. I moved like a specter through the haze.
*Thud!**Shing!**Crack!*
One guard fell to a blade across his throat, another to a broken neck. The last staggered blindly, swinging his sword in desperation. I knocked the weapon aside with a sharp kick and drove my katana into his chest. He gasped once before crumpling.
((...))
Emotionlessly I moved on to the next cluster, guided by instinct rather than tactics.
I've already blocked all of their escape routes after all, any further strategy will be unnecessary.
I moved on...
A watchtower loomed over the anchorage, manned by two sentries armed with longbows. Their elevated vantage point made them a priority target.
I scaled the side of the tower with ease, my enhanced strength allowing me to climb the wooden supports like a spider. Reaching the top, I swung myself silently onto the platform.
The first sentry, oblivious to my presence, drew an arrow from his quiver. Before he could nock it, I drove my "Mumei" through his back jutting out the other side.
*Shing!*
"GAAAAH!"
His body sagged against the railing, and I eased him over the edge, his fall masked by the bustling activity below.
"Huh?! What the...Sylas! Damn you! I'm gonna-"
The second guard turned just as I approached, his bow half-drawn.
((Slow...))
*Snap*
I lunged, grabbing the bowstring and snapping it with a flick of my wrist. He stumbled back, reaching for a dagger at his hip, but I was faster.
*Thwip!*
"Guh!"
A barbed steel bolt fired from my wrist and buried itself in his throat. He gurgled, collapsing onto the wooden planks, his lifeless hand still clutching the broken bowstring.
I descended the tower, leaving the watchpoint vacant and defenseless.
And so I continued like that, tirelessly moving from one place to another, killing everyone in sight. The sharp twang of bowstrings, the startled gasps, the wet *thud!* of bodies hitting the ground—it all blended into a symphony of death. I didn't bother hiding the bodies after a certain point. The people who COULD notice were dropping like flies.
"Hmm hmm hmm~ ah!"
A dockworker crouched over a crate, oblivious, until my blade found the back of his neck. He slumped forward without a sound, his head hitting the crate with a dull *thump*.
Another group of nearby dockworkers were hauling crates toward the central warehouse. Though unarmed, they were part of the operation and couldn't be allowed to report back.
I stalked toward them, slipping between stacks of cargo.
*Whrr!*
"!!"
A spring-loaded bolt shot from my wrist-mounted launcher, striking one worker in the temple. The others spun toward the sound just as I vaulted onto the crates above them.
"Wha-? He-!"
*Shing!*
I dropped onto the nearest man, my Ballisong plunging into his trachea. The last two workers broke into a panicked run, but I was faster.
"Oh god! No..."
"Run!"
*Thwip!* *Thwip!*
Two bolts found their marks, burying into their spines. They collapsed mid-stride, lifeless.
A patrol of three guards rushed toward the commotion near the central warehouse. They didn't see me yet though at this point stealth was becoming less necessary.
"Wha-!"
I vaulted over a stack of crates, landing behind them with feline grace. The first man turned at the faint sound of my landing, but his warning died in his throat as my "Mumei" cut across it.
*Shink!*
"Bastard! I'm gonna- ARGH!"
The second guard spun, drawing his sword. I dashed forward in a blur, my enhanced speed making his reaction useless. My katana pierced his heart before he could even finish unsheathing.
"I'll kill you! Masked freak!"
The third guard, the largest of the group, swung a heavy mace at me. I ducked under the arc, closing the distance in a heartbeat. My knee slammed into his ribs with a crack that echoed across the docks, and I finished him with a quick thrust under the chin.
I stepped over the bodies, retrieving a bolt from a sailor's back as I passed.
Gradually, the noise of the bustling anchorage faded. The cries of dockworkers, the shouts of guards, even the occasional laughter of sailors—all of it was gone. Now, only the faint lapping of waves and the distant creak of burning torches filled the air.
""...""
I stepped through the remnants of my handiwork, my black cloak swaying faintly as the wind caught its edges. The white mask covering my face—a featureless oval with only two narrow eyeholes—was stained with splatters of blood. The silence pressed down on the scene, heavy and unnatural.
((Only one thing left to do...Orland's in that building if I remember correctly))
From within the central building, voices carried faintly, muffled by thick wooden walls and the lingering smoke of the pellets that I used.
(([Dark vision]))
Casting a spell on myself I could see clearly through the walls of the wooden building at what was taking place within.
Inside, Hanuman Orland sat at the head of a worn wooden table, speaking with the two Rivalin representatives. The room's low lantern light reflected off his gaudy fisher's cap, the jewels on its brim glittering with every exaggerated gesture of his bejeweled fingers.
The first Rivalin representative exuded authority. His high-collared coat of crimson silk, embroidered with golden trim, announced his wealth and status. He leaned on an ornate silver cane shaped into a snarling wolf's head, a symbol of dominance. His sharp eyes, like a predator sizing up prey, darted between Orland and the map sprawled across the table, always calculating, always two steps ahead.
Beside him stood his bodyguard, a woman who radiated lethal precision. Her sword rested lightly at her hip, but her posture hinted at readiness. The weapon—a gilded masterpiece of gold and silver with a ruby inset in the pommel—seemed an extension of her. Her piercing gaze swept the room in rhythmic intervals, missing nothing, betraying nothing.
"Gentlemen...and ladies"
Orland said, his voice a slick mixture of charm and bravado.
"I assure you, this deal will secure the Rivalin guild's expansion into the Marginot line of Coastania"
He traced a line on the map with a jeweled finger.
"State-of-the-art wetware, biogenetically engineered to perfection—"
"Ga-!"
A muffled grunt echoed from outside.
The bodyguard straightened, her posture stiffening as her hand snapped to the hilt of her sword.
"What was that?!"
She barked, her voice sharp and commanding, cutting through Orland's words like her blade through flesh.
"You promised this place was secure, Orland!"
Orland faltered for a moment, his confidence slipping. Then, he forced a grin, holding up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Relax, honored partners"
He said, though his voice wavered.
"Probably just one of the men moving supplies. Maybe they dropped something on their foot"
"Hmm…"
The tall, older representative didn't speak but narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on his cane.
"No, something doesn't feel right...why is it so quiet?"
The bodyguard said, her eyes darting to the door.
"I'll go check it out"
She turned sharply, boots clicking against the wooden floor.
"If you insist…"
Orland said with an uneasy laugh.
The trio stepped outside cautiously.
The once-bustling anchorage was deathly silent, the air lightly stained with the acrid scent of blood. The scene before them froze them in their tracks. Dockworkers, sailors, and guards lay lifeless, their bodies sprawled haphazardly across the ground, blood pooling under their bodies and seeping into the wooden planks.
Orland's fingers trembled, his usual bravado crumbling.
"What the—?! What…what happened here?!"
He stammered, his voice cracking.
"Where is everyone?"
I emerged from the shadows, my bloodstained cloak billowing slightly as I stepped forward. The white, featureless mask covering my face was speckled with dried blood, its empty eyeholes boring into the trio.
I raised my hand.
*Snap!*
With a snap of my fingers, the explosions were instantaneous.
*BOOM!*
The docks erupted into chaos. The ships burst into flames as the [Fire Runes] activated, sending burning sails and splinters of wood raining down. The vehicle yard followed suit, detonating in a roaring inferno that spiraled upward, bathing the scene in a hellish orange glow.
"Watch out!"
The female guard unsheathed her sword in a fluid motion, her blade catching the firelight. The ruby in the pommel reflected a deep, bloody hue as she positioned herself protectively in front of her employer.
Orland stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock as he shouted.
"We're under attack! Where are my guards?!"
I ignored his panicked cries and stepped forward, my tone calm and detached as my voice cut through the chaos.
""Hanuman Orland...""
I intoned blankly, my eyes fixed on him through the eye holes in my mask.
""By order of the Executerii, you and all your co-conspirators have been declared Signum Damnationis. Surrender, and a quick, painless death may be in the cards""
I said with a tone detached and cold in it's finality leaving no room for arguments.
"Damn you, Orland! You said you weren't followed!"
The guard narrowed her eyes at me, her stance firm.
"...ha...haha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Orland didn't answer immediately. He stared at me, his fear giving way to an eerie calm. Then he began to laugh—a low, guttural sound that grew into a full-throated cackle.
"Well, well..."
He said, his tone steady despite the carnage around him.
"The White Jackal. I didn't expect the Mekhanites to send YOU, of all people."
He adjusted his cap, smirking as he tapped a ringed finger on his chest.
"I suppose I should feel honored…coming face-to-face with callsign: oblivion himself. That damn puppet really sent you after my trail huh? Haha...I'm almost flattered by this rare showing of attention"
With vacant eyes and a hollow laugh Orland said.
""...?""
I tilted my head slightly, my mask betraying no emotion.
""You seem oddly pleased, Orland. Were you expecting me?""
I asked a bit confused and cautious as to why he's laughing.
"Expecting you? Ha! I was counting on it. What's about to happen here wouldn't be as impactful if it was anyone BUT you!"
His grin widened, though his vacant eyes remained the same.
((Those are the eyes of a man prepared for death...but...why do I feel like something's incredibly wrong here?))
I've seen those eyes before. They were the kind that only belonged to men who were prepared to die.
""...""
But this time...I could feel that there was something different about Orland...a fact that put me on edge...
Keeping my composure, I turned my attention to the Rivalins.
""As for you two""
I addressed the two proxies of the Scarlet Chorus.
""The Scarlet Chorus have violated Executerii code by attempting to acquire Mekhanite wetware illegally. Your actions nullify any obligation to show mercy""
The bodyguard tightened her grip on her sword, her eyes narrowing in disdain.
"Damn you, Orland!"
She hissed.
"The Mekhanites have clung to their superiority for far too long, refusing to work with the rest of us for our shared goal. It's time their work served more deserving hands..."
The tall man finally spoke, his voice cold and disdainful.
""I'm afraid you won't be living long enough to put that statement to practice...""
I raised "Mumei" ready to end this.