As the sound of soldiers' approaching footsteps grew louder in the stairwell, their hearts pounded with fear. The door they desperately tried to open seemed impossibly stuck.
"Are we going to die here?!" Alex exclaimed in panic.
"Not today! I will kill th… Wait, where's my dagger? Damn! It must still be in the alley," the woman said, frustration evident in her voice.
"Even if you had the dagger, we wouldn't stand a chance against them!" Carmella interjected.
"Everyone, just calm down! There's nothing to be afraid of if we die," Dr. Apgar said.
"But we are still young, Doctor! There are so many things I want to do that haven't been done yet!" Carmella said, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I won't give up! I will keep trying to open this door!" Vermilion declared, her determination unwavering.
Finally, the key in Vermilion's hand turned, and they rushed through the door without a second thought. Vermilion supported the injured woman and quickly locked the door behind them.
"Where are we going to… hide…???" Vermilion asked, puzzled.
"Ermm… where are we…?" Carmella inquired, equally confused.
After passing through the door, they found themselves in a suburban area, a stark contrast to the familiar rooftop they expected. To their surprise, the door they had just exited now led to a dilapidated wooden house.
They couldn't believe what they were witnessing, left utterly speechless. Vermilion went to open the door of the wooden house, but Carmella immediately stopped her.
"Don't open it! What if the soldiers are behind the door?!"
Vermilion nodded, pressing her ear against the door to listen for any approaching soldiers. But all she heard was silence.
"I didn't hear anything behind the door… it's very quiet…"
"Does that mean we've escaped a catastrophe?" Alex asked, hope glimmering in his eyes.
"Maybe, but the problem right now is, where the hell are we??? Doctor, you haven't said a word since just now, what's wrong?" Carmella asked, noticing Dr. Apgar's unusual silence.
"I just… feel a bit familiar with this place, but I can't seem to recall since I've traveled to so many places before…"
"Actually, I have the same feeling... ?!! Wait, everyone, be silent!" Vermilion said abruptly.
Everyone looked at Vermilion, wondering what she was trying to do. She closed her eyes and focused on listening intently. After a while, she opened her eyes with a smile, a glimmer of excitement on her face.
"I heard it! Follow me! This way!"
"What did you hear?! I concentrated, but I didn't hear anything," the woman asked.
"It's a waterfall! And I think it's the same waterfall I went to before in the village."
"Village… Oh! You're right! It's the village where I met you! I remember that wooden house; it was used for storage by those villagers!" Dr. Apgar recalled.
"Village? What village are you two talking about?" Carmella asked, bewildered.
"It's the place where I met this weird girl."
"Then, that means… we are not in Luthernza?!!"
"Yes, this place is very near to the border with Jervalae."
"This doesn't make any sense… Vermilion! You were the one who opened the door just now, right? Didn't you cast some magic? Like last night when you suddenly disappeared?!"
"I really have no idea at all…"
'Seems like I was right; I can vaguely feel that she is not an ordinary person…' the woman thought.
"Superpower?! That is amazing!" Dr. Apgar said.
"Wow! I never thought you were such an incredible girl! Hehehe." Alex surprised.
"Come on! She has unexplained power; how could you both still be so excited about it?!" Carmella said, exasperated.
"I thought you always said we must learn to accept reality and you mention it to the children every time," Dr. Apgar teased.
"I just don't want them to suffer from loss. These two are completely different things."
"Children? What children are you two talking about?" Vermilion asked curiously.
"Oh! I haven't told her about it, Doctor. Should we tell her?"
"I think we should wait until the right time. Now doesn't seem like the right time."
"It's fine; I believe Carmella will tell me everything someday."
"Yes, I will! But what should we do now?"
"If we open that door again, will we be able to return to our home?" Alex asked.
"I think maybe we can give it a try. Vermilion, go and try it again." Dr. Apgar suggested.
"Alright, I'll try it now."
Vermilion approached the door, which looked exactly the same as the one on the rooftop. After confirming that there was no movement behind the door, she carefully inserted the key into the keyhole. Everyone looked at her expectantly, hoping for another miracle. She took a deep breath and opened the door, and they all peered inside.
"It's an empty living room… So, no more miracles," Alex said with disappointment.
"So how do we go back to Luthernza from here? I have no money with me," Carmella said.
"I think it's dangerous to go back to Luthernza for now. We should try to monitor the situation and the soldiers' movements before we go back," Dr. Apgar suggested.
"That means we have to stay in the village for now?" Vermilion asked.
"Yes, I believe that's the best option we have. Besides, we have an injured companion who can barely walk. Let's stay in the village for a few days and see how things unfold."
"Alright then."
They walked through the deserted village, finding no sign of any inhabitants. Knocking on doors yielded no response. Eventually, they followed Dr. Apgar to the little house where she had stayed, while Alex searched for food outside.
"So, this is the village of the exiles you mentioned to me before, right?" Carmella asked.
"Yes, but they had all moved on the day Vermilion and I arrived at Luthernza."
"Dr. Apgar, I saw the news… they were all…" Vermilion's face saddened.
"I saw it too, what a tragedy…"
"So, the villagers here have already... No wonder you were so sad that day," Carmella empathized.
"Hey lady, what's wrong with you? You always had a fierce face since last night when I met you, but now you look sad all of a sudden?" Dr. Apgar questioned the woman.
"None of your business…" The woman replied coldly.
"Is this your attitude towards your benefactors?"
The woman ignored them, keeping silent.
"Hey! I found some canned food left in the other house!" Alex returned.
"Great! We haven't had breakfast yet," Carmella said.
They opened the canned food and heated it up, eating hungrily.
"How is it, Vermilion? I've never prepared canned food before," Carmella asked.
"You always prepared those plain and boring toast for us. Even the canned food tastes better!" Alex chimed in.
"To be honest, I still think Carmella's toast tastes better."
"Really?! I always make those toasts all by myself. Finally, my hard work paid off."
"Seriously? I think the canned food is way better than her toast."
"Well, if you don't like it, I will not prepare it for you from now on."
"Come on, I'm just joking. Hehehe."
"I really like her toast, I would even like to learn from Carmella if she is willing to teach me!"
"Sure! Once we get back home, I will teach you right away!"
After finishing their meal, Dr. Apgar and Alex went to a nearby town to gather information about the situation in Luthernza, while the rest stayed in the village to take care of the injured woman.
As the evening approached, Dr. Apgar and Alex returned with dinner.
"Hi! We're back. Did you miss us?" Alex joked.
"Not at all," Carmella replied teasingly.
"You are so cold…"
"Dr. Apgar, how is the situation in Luthernza?" Vermilion inquired.
"Some people say that the security there is very strict now. I don't think we can go back in a few days. By the way, I was planning to travel to a nearby city. Alex, you have to come with me since the situation is getting worse," Dr. Apgar said.
"Okay! When do you intend to go?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Got it."
"It's almost night; you all better be on your guard even though we're out in the countryside. Stay alert. Carmella, you're staying with me in my room tonight. Alex, feel free to sleep in the living room. Vermilion, take care of the troublemaker."
"Okay!"
As night fell, they were all a little tired and went to bed. Vermilion sat on the bed, lost in thought about the series of unexplainable phenomena. The woman couldn't sleep either, and she observed Vermilion sitting there.
"Hey you!" The woman called.
"Whooo! Sorry, I thought you had fallen asleep."
"Aren't you tired? You have been carrying me around all day."
"I am tired, but there's so much going through my mind."
"Same here… What's your full name again?"
"Oh, ermm… Vermilion Yeleona."
"Vermilion… Yeleona…"
"How about you? I haven't asked your name yet…"
The woman fell silent for a moment before she continued asking her questions.
"Why did you want to help me? I almost killed you when we met that day."
"You have killed many soldiers, but not innocent people. I believe there must be a reason behind it, and I want to know about it. That's why I tried to save you."
"I see…"
"But I guess you won't tell me. That's fine; I won't force you to..."
"Ayukawa." The woman interrupted.
"Huh? What?"
"Ayukawa. That's my surname… I came from another continent."
"Oh! I see! Nice to meet ya…"
"Hmm… Obviously, you are not her…"
"Her? Who?"
"Nothing… I need to sleep right now."
"Al… alright! Goodnight…"
Meanwhile, both Carmella and Dr. Apgar were still awake.
"So, Vermilion is from the village on the mountain here?" Carmella asked.
"It seems that way, but there's something strange about her... I'm convinced she's not an ordinary person, one hundred percent sure," Dr. Apgar confessed.
"Because of her power?"
"Not only because of her power, even her whole existence is a mystery. I actually visited the village on the mountain with Alex. You know what we saw?"
"What did you see?"
"There was nothing there; the village had completely vanished. However, we did find some wreckage of tanks. No one knows what happened that night, only she knows, but sadly, she can't remember anything."
"So, do you mean she came from a village that doesn't exist?"
"I'm not sure, but I am very sure there was a village there. I saw it with my own eyes before, but I never got to visit. How come the whole village just vanished…"
"Yeah? But it doesn't matter anymore. Anyway, she's a good kid and is my dear sister now, and I totally don't mind who she is. To me, she is no different from ordinary people, and she is strong and kind."
"It seems that I made the right choice in handing her over to you."
"Of course!"
As night fell, the skilled assassin returned to the bustling capital, driven by a single purpose - to claim his well-deserved compensation from the person who had hired him. His movements were fluid and graceful as he effortlessly infiltrated the heavily guarded Ministry of Defence, making his way to Lieutenant Dialla's office. Without hesitation, he entered the room, no need for polite pleasantries.
"Where's my money?" The assassin's voice was cool and composed as he stood behind Lieutenant Dialla.
"Woahhh! It's you! Hahaha! Have a seat," Lieutenant Dialla was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the assassin.
"No need. Just hand over the money now, and I will leave at once." The assassin replied, with a hint of impatience in his voice.
"Why the rush? I was hoping to have a drink with you." Lieutenant Dialla said with a smirk.
"Not interested."
"I see. So, everything is taken care of, I assume?"
"She has vanished from this world. My skill is beyond doubt."
"Marvelous! You truly are the best assassin in the world. You've saved my day and the military's honor."
" Cut the crap! Where's the money you promised me?"
Lieutenant Dialla's face contorted into a sinister grin as he remained silent, locking eyes with the assassin. Moving calmly to his desk, he took a seat and slyly reached for an emergency button hidden from the assassin's view.
"Did you sneak in all by yourself?"
"Yes, I am a lone combatant after all."
"Admirable. Breaking in alone and demanding your reward."
"Seems like you have no intention of keeping your word..."
"Hahaha! By the way, have you heard the story of a man signing his own death warrant?"
"I'm done with your games!" The assassin swiftly drew his revolver and pointed it at Lieutenant Dialla.
"Woah! Woah! Easy, my friend. I keep my promises. Your money is in this suitcase, just as agreed."
"Good... but I'd like you to open it for me."
"Sure thing..." Lieutenant Dialla cautiously opened the left buckle of the suitcase and began to turn it slightly, preparing to open the right buckle. Sensing something amiss, the assassin attempted to fire his revolver, but it was too late. The right buckle was opened, and a torrent of flames burst forth from the suitcase, directed towards the assassin. Reacting with lightning speed, the assassin dodged the flames unscathed.
Lieutenant Dialla quickly took cover behind his desk and pressed the button. The entire building's fire alarms blared, and protection systems sprang into action. In the thick smoke, the assassin and Lieutenant Dialla engaged in a frenzied exchange of gunfire, the flames rapidly consuming the room.
"A man of his word? Even a military officer proves to be a coward nowadays!" The assassin taunted.
"Your fate was sealed the moment you entered this room! There's no escape! My men are on their way. Hahahahaha!!!"
"Stop hiding! I'll take your life before your men arrive!"
"On the battlefield, only the smartest survive!"
"Smartest?! A coward like you can't claim such a title! Screw you!" *Cough, cough...*
The whole room was engulfed in thick smoke, reducing visibility to near zero. Lieutenant Dialla swiftly donned a gas mask, prepared for the chaos that ensued. The assassin knew the current situation was not in his favor, so he decided to escape and run towards the stairwell. As he left the room, a group of soldiers arrived at Lieutenant Dialla's office, their urgency evident as they spotted the rapidly spreading fire.
"Sir! Are you in there?!" one of the soldiers asked.
"Yes, I am. It's just a small fire, no need to panic. Put it out quickly," Lieutenant Dialla calmly replied, despite the fire rapidly growing out of control.
"Yes, Sir! You there, fetch the fire extinguisher now! Move, everyone! Hurry up!"
"And you! Inform the others to seal all the exits of this building immediately!"
"Yes, Sir! But why..."
"Someone broke into my room and tried to kill me. He's the one who started this fire! If you see any suspicious person, shoot on sight!"
"Roger that! Attention, all units! Seal all the exits of the building and apprehend the intruder! I repeat..."
"Hahahaha! He's as good as dead!" Lieutenant Dialla gloated with an evil laugh.
The soldiers followed the orders diligently, guarding the ground floor exits to prevent any escape. However, unbeknownst to them, the assassin had other plans. Instead of heading down to the ground floor, he raced to the staircase and swiftly made his way upstairs.
"As I thought, those idiots would never consider that I'd escape to a higher floor!" The assassin smirked.
Ascending to a higher level of the building, he swiftly dealt with all the guarding soldiers on that floor. Reaching a large glass window, he prepared his escape equipment. From his arsenal, he retrieved a grapple gun and used it to shatter the window. The grappling hook shot out, latching firmly onto the opposite building's rooftop. Ensuring the rope's stability, he gripped it tightly, preparing to swing to safety. Just as he was about to make his daring leap, a man appeared behind him, aiming a pistol at the assassin.
"Hey, you! Stop right there!"
"Who the hell…?!" The assassin feigned surrender, slowly turning around to face the man behind him.
As the assassin slowly turned around to face the source of the commanding voice, he was met with a striking sight. Standing before him was Captain Raynolds, a formidable figure exuding an air of authority and confidence. His tall, imposing frame was emphasized by a perfectly tailored military uniform, adorned with various medals and insignias, signifying a decorated and experienced officer.
"Did you just kill all my men behind there?"
"Probably yes, but probably no..."
"What do you mean?!"
"They wouldn't be dead if you all weren't cowards. So, I'm not the only one responsible for their deaths."
"Nonsense. What is your purpose here?"
"No comment…"
"Get down on the floor with your hands on your head! If you dare to play tricks, you will die!"
The assassin complied, getting down on the ground, but a confident smile lingered on his face as if he was contemplating something.
"Let me ask you one more time. Who are you and what is your purpose here?!"
"An assassin…"
"Who's your target?!"
"Nobody…"
"Nobody? Then are you simply having fun breaking in here and killing my men?!"
"Maybe!!!"
The assassin quickly threw a flashbang at the man, blinding him momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, the assassin returned to the window, ready to make his escape.
"Damn… My eyes…"
"If you want to know who else is responsible for the death of your men, you can ask your lovely comrade, Lieutenant Dialla!"
"Dialla?!"
Before Captain Raynolds could react, the assassin swiftly slid to the rooftop of the opposite building using his rope, escaping without a trace.
"Captain Raynolds!" Another group of soldiers arrived at the scene and called out to him.
"Are you alright, Captain?"
"Yeah, I just got blinded by a flashbang."
"Flashbang? Did you clash with someone just now?"
"Not really, but he's an assassin according to himself, and he is the one who caused this turmoil here."
"An assassin?! Where did he go?"
"The opposite building. Inform the nearby patrolling soldiers to search for him now! Tell them to be careful; he's a skilled person."
"Roger that!"
All the nearby soldiers acted immediately, their training kicking in as they responded swiftly to Captain Raynolds' orders. They dispersed in different directions, determined to find the assassin and bring him to justice.
Amid the chaos, Captain Raynolds himself did not stand idle. With a heavy heart, he approached each fallen soldier, paying them the utmost respect they deserved. He gently picked up their lifeless bodies, one by one, with utmost care and reverence.
With unwavering dedication, he carried each fallen comrade to the corridor, placing them side by side with solemn precision. As he laid them to rest, he took a moment to pause before each fallen soldier, bowing his head in a show of utmost respect and gratitude for their sacrifice.
"Farewell my men..." Captain Raynolds whispered, his voice choked with emotion.
'The guy just mentioned Dialla… I can't believe I heard his name again… This is not coincidence anymore; he must have done something shady behind us. I need to find out at once!' Captain Raynolds thought.
Meanwhile, as the chaos unfolded, Lieutenant Dialla waited impatiently at the lobby, his mind filled with a sense of triumph. He was convinced that the assassin had met his demise, and he relished the thought of his enemy vanquished.
"Lieutenant Dialla!" A soldier called out, snapping him back to the present.
"Any good news?"
"I'm sorry, Sir… Seems like he has got away..."
Lieutenant Dialla's face contorted with fury and disbelief. "Are you kidding me?! I JUST ORDERED ALL OF YOU TO KILL HIM AND THEN YOU ALL JUST LET HIM ESCAPE?!!"
"Sorry, Sir!" The soldier's voice trembled under the weight of Lieutenant Dialla's wrath.
"Apologize won't do anything! If the public finds out about this incident, it will ruin our reputation!" Lieutenant Dialla seethed, his frustration boiling over.
"Sorry, Sir! At first, we thought he would escape from the lobby, but he seems to have escaped to a higher floor!"
"Higher floor?! Then how did he manage to escape?"
"We are not sure, Sir... But we heard Captain Raynolds clashed with him before he escaped."
"Captain Raynolds?! Even a man like him couldn't finish off the assassin as well? I see… Maybe I can make him bear the responsibility this time… Hahaha!" Lieutenant Dialla's sinister laughter echoed through the lobby.
"What makes you so happy, Lieutenant Dialla?" Captain Raynolds' commanding voice cut through the tension."
Lieutenant Dialla turned to face Captain Raynolds, his expression a mix of surprise and annoyance.
"Captain Raynolds! Please rest assured, I have ordered my people to find out the assassin. I believe my men will bring good news after a short while."
"Hmm… that's good, but I am here for something else. Could you all leave us alone? I need to talk to Lieutenant."
"Yes, Captain!"
"I heard your office got caught in the fire?"
"Unfortunately… yes. The assassin is the one to blame for it."
"So that means he was in your office... Why is he targeting you?"
"I really have no idea, Captain… You should ask him yourself once my men capture him."
"So, you totally have no idea about this incident?"
"Of course not! What makes you think so?"
"I find it curious that the assassin mentioned your name before he escaped," Captain Raynolds stated, narrowing his eyes.
Lieutenant Dialla's heart skipped a beat, but he managed to feign innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Captain. This is just a coincidence, I assure you."
"I see… If you have any information about this assassin, provide to me immediately.
"Of course, Captain!"
After questioning Lieutenant Dialla, Captain Raynolds returned to his office. He opened a drawer and located a specific file, studying its contents carefully with a serious expression.
"Nisaeria… Exiles… Dialla…" he muttered, deep in thought.
He looked at the documents with a heavy expression and stroked his head with his hands. He sighed and put the documents back into the drawer. Then he picked up his phone and called someone he trusted the most.
"Hello? Rosseaulyn? It's me."
"Hello, Captain!"
"How is your new workplace in Luthernza?"
"I like it so far. I guess you are not calling me for chit-chat. Are you planning to assign something for me again?"
"Yeah, do you remember what I've told you about Lieutenant Dialla?"
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"I need your help to investigate something. Are you willing to help me?"
"Can I say no to my officer?"
"Ermm… Yes, you can if you want to."
"Just kidding. But I will only be able to come over to your place next week. I am going to visit my family this weekend."
"Sure, appreciate your help, Lieutenant Winton."
"No problem!"
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