บท 59: With The Actors In Place, It's Time For The Playwright To Watch How They Bring The Script To Life
Cian and the group cautiously crawled towards a specific room, knowing it held their ticket to escape through a window and head northwest. Each member of the team carried a shield securely fastened to their backs.
"Stay low and keep your heads down. Any exposure could mean getting hit," Cian instructed.
He had opted not to wear his suit due to its weight, leaving him naked even now. Maya, too, remained unclothed, which hindered her ability to crawl comfortably as her breasts pressed against the cold floor.
Having engaged in a recent sexual encounter, neither Cian nor Maya had taken the time to put their clothes back on. However, in the face of their current situation, such details were of little concern to them.
As the team crawled through the hallway, the sound of bullets piercing the wooden walls of the inn filled the air. The onslaught seemed endless, and Cian couldn't help but wonder just how many bullets these mafias had at their disposal.
"Vera, where did you park the car?"
"Somewhere in the city, about 500 meters away from here," Vera replied.
Now, not only did they have to fend off waves of mafia, but they also needed to make their way to the car, a daunting task that would significantly impact their chances of escape.
"Don't worry, Lord Lambhart. I factored all of this into my calculations, so our chances remain the same," Charlotte reassured him.
Cian couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at Charlotte's impressive calculation abilities. While he had his own skills, his limited experience in the outside world meant he couldn't match her expertise.
Approaching the designated room, Cian directed everyone to raise their shields. With a swift motion, he pulled the pin of a smoke grenade and hurled it towards the window.
"Get ready." he said.
Almost instantaneously, a thick cloud of smoke billowed out from the grenade. Seizing the opportunity, they swiftly exited through the window, shields raised in various directions to provide comprehensive protection from all sides.
As gunshots echoed from various directions, the team remained resolute, with the sound of bullets occasionally striking their shields.
"Stay focused and don't falter. Keep your shields up, no matter what," Cian urged. Without glancing at Vera, he asked, "Which way?"
"Straight ahead," Vera replied.
Just then, the sound of helicopters reverberated above them, catching them off guard.
"What? Why are there helicopters?" someone exclaimed.
Cian's mind raced, searching for a solution, but he could only come up with a temporary one.
"Stay calm! We're still concealed by the smoke. As long as it lingers, we can elude them. Trust in each other," he reassured. Suddenly, he sensed something and turned his gaze towards Vera. "Vera, do you sense anyone approaching?" he inquired.
"Yes, and I recognize their presence. It's the Knight Orders," Vera responded.
"Why are the Knight Orders here too?" he gritted his teeth.
With the additional threat of the Knight Orders and helicopters joining the battlefield, Cian's mind raced, searching for a strategy that would minimize the damage to their group. He turned to Charlotte, knowing her calculations would be crucial in navigating this perilous situation.
"Charlotte, I need you to calculate our chances now, considering the helicopters and the Knight Orders," Cian requested.
Charlotte nodded, her eyes focused as she processed the information. She quickly assessed the variables at play, taking into account their position, the number of enemies, and the capabilities of the Knight Orders.
After a brief pause, Charlotte spoke, her voice steady, "Given the current circumstances, our chances of survival have dropped to 42 percent. The addition of the Knight Orders and the helicopters has significantly complicated the situation."
After Charlotte's sobering assessment, Cian's frustration surged within him. "42 percent? Are you kidding me?" he exclaimed through gritted teeth.
His gaze then shifted upward, focusing on the menacing helicopters looming above them. As the smoke dissipated, their presence became evident, and the helicopters.
"Get down! Raise your shields!"
Reacting swiftly, he shouted for everyone to duck and raise their shields for protection.
The team quickly reacted, crouching low and raising their shields, the metal absorbing the impact of the bullets. Fear gripped Cian's heart as he struggled to devise a new strategy to survive. But in that moment, a sense of despair washed over him. Was this how he would meet his end? Would he die without completing his revenge against the man who had brought chaos into his, Vera's, and his mother's life?
Just as hope seemed to dwindle, a sudden explosion rocked the air, causing Cian's gaze to snap toward the source. The helicopter that had been targeting them was engulfed in flames, spiraling out of control. Confusion filled his mind as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.
Then, he saw it—the Knight Orders engaged in a fierce battle with the mafia forces. The unexpected turn of events filled Cian with a mix of relief and curiosity. It seemed that a chaotic clash had erupted between two formidable adversaries, offering a temporary reprieve for them.
"Take cover! Let them fight it out!"
The team swiftly sought refuge behind whatever cover they could find, shielding themselves from the ongoing battle between the Knight Orders and the mafias. Gunfire and explosions echoed through the air as the two opposing forces clashed, creating a chaotic backdrop for their escape.
Cian's mind raced once again, seizing the opportunity presented to them. "We need to move while they're preoccupied. Stay low and advance cautiously. Use the chaos to our advantage," he strategized.
Curiosity gnawed at him as he turned to Charlotte. "Charlotte, what's our current percentage?" he asked.
"Considering the engagement between the Knight Orders and the mafias, our chances of survival have slightly improved to 47 percent," Charlotte reported.
As they pressed forward, Cian couldn't help but glance back at the inn they had just escaped from. Flames engulfed the building, consuming it in a destructive inferno.
'Thank god we left the inn before it reached this point...'
As he continued to press forward, his mind couldn't help but dwell on the dwindling odds. 'Still, 47 percent... that's nowhere near our initial percentage of survival,' The gravity of their situation weighed heavily on his mind, driving him to seek any possible strategies to increase their chances.
Suddenly, a series of explosions reverberated from behind them, jolting Cian from his thoughts. He swiftly turned to assess the situation, his instincts on high alert. The chaotic symphony of battle had intensified, creating a tumultuous backdrop for their precarious journey.
Searching for guidance, Cian looked to Charlotte, hoping she could provide an alternative strategy that didn't involve sacrificing any of them. Her expertise in calculations and analysis had proven invaluable thus far.
"Charlotte, do you see any other options to improve our chances?" Cian asked. He needed her insight and strategic thinking now more than ever.
Charlotte considered the question for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. After a brief pause, she proposed an idea. "Perhaps we should consider taking a detour towards the car instead of heading straight for it. By diverting our path, we can avoid drawing unnecessary attention while we make our escape," she suggested.
Cian absorbed Charlotte's suggestion, recognizing the potential benefits of taking a detour to avoid unnecessary attention. "How much would that increase our chances?" he inquired, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Charlotte's response was measured. "Based on my calculations, taking the detour would increase our chances by approximately 3 percent," she stated. The small increment didn't provide much reassurance, leaving their overall odds teetering at a precarious 50-50.
"50-50...," Cian muttered to himself, a mix of determination and apprehension evident in his expression. While the odds were far from favorable, he understood that they needed to make the most of the resources and opportunities available to them. With a nod, he accepted Charlotte's proposed strategy.
Turning his attention to the team, Cian issued instructions. "Vera, keep your mind alert for any potential threats along the way," he directed, his voice firm. To Maya and Charlotte, he added, "Be prepared for any unexpected confrontations we may encounter. Stay focused and ready to react." Aware of Mila and Freya's lack of combat experience, he emphasized their role. "Mila, Freya, stay close to us. Your priority is to run to safety. We'll do our best to protect you."
With the roles assigned and their plan in motion, they began their detour, navigating through the uncertain terrain. Each step forward carried a weight of anticipation and determination. The sounds of battle and chaos slowly faded into the distance as they ventured into unfamiliar territory, guided by their instincts and the collective strength of their resolve.
As they moved, Cian's attention turned to Vera. "Vera, how far do we have to go to reach the car if we take this detour?"
Vera took a moment to calculate their approximate distance. "The detour will add roughly 800 meters to our journey," she replied without taking her eyes off her surroundings.
As Vera provided the distance, Cian's mind shifted to another aspect of their plan.
A glimmer of anticipation danced in his eyes as he exchanged a knowing look with Maya. There was a shared understanding between them, a silent acknowledgment of the imminent climax of their operation.
'Now, with the actors in place, it's time for the playwright to watch how they bring the script to life,' Cian mused.
In his hand, he held something that would elevate their entrance to new heights, surpassing any flashy display that had come before. It was a button, innocuous in appearance, yet carrying the potential to set their plan into motion with undeniable flair.
'With this... our existence... the Scarlet Lotus's existence... will be known throughout the underground and the surface society.'
Pressing the button, Cian initiated a 10-minute countdown, the digital display flickering to life.
As the digital numbers flickered on the small device, Cian's mind drifted to the metaphorical stage that awaited them. He envisioned the unfolding drama, the actors taking their positions, and the playwright observing the culmination of their struggle.
'...Let's rise the curtains...to the fall of this kingdom...'
The countdown served as the overture to the fall of a kingdom built on corruption and injustice. Their actions would expose the Scarlet Lotus's existence, sending ripples through the underground and surface society alike.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
As the chaos unfolded around her, the paladin maintained her composure, focusing her sights through the scope. With each calculated pull of the trigger, her aim remained unwavering, dispatching the mafias with deadly precision. The sound of gunfire merged with the rhythm of her kill count murmurs, a macabre melody that echoed through the chaos.
"Twelve... thirteen... fourteen..." she whispered, keeping tally of the lives she had taken.
Reload. Bolt handle. Shoot.
The carnage continued, and the paladin's skill shone through the haze of violence. She dispatched ten mafias in each shot, reloading with practiced efficiency, ready to unleash another volley of deadly accuracy.
Amidst the blur of targets and gunfire, something caught her attention—a glimmer of white hair amidst the chaos. A surge of anger coursed through her veins as memories of a previous encounter resurfaced. She remembered the humiliation of being bested bare-handed by that woman. The insult burned within her, a seething rage that fueled her pursuit.
"How many kills have I claimed? Twenty-seven... Yes, around twenty-seven," she muttered, her voice devoid of emotion. "She shall be the twenty-eighth..."
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