July 7th, 1427

  Dulbu Mine. Principality of Lior.

  After he finished setting up the kitchenette in the back of the small truck, Sasha used a Flame Gem in place of the previous Life Gem to quickly boil the water as he readied to prepare a large quantity of coffee.

  A few mine workers helped him out, distributing the hot meals to their coworkers before sitting down to enjoy their own MRE bags.

  The reception so far was very positive, with some of the mine workers even shed tears of joy from the flavorful warm meal - perhaps the best one they’ve had in weeks or months - contained within the bag. Even the overseer - who put up the commission - brightened up, expecting only stale bread or oatmeal for the next two weeks.

  “Woah!” A demi-human man with a cat ear yelped, seeing the MRE bag heating itself up without the need for any magical input but only water. “How is it doing that?!”

  “Something something about chemical reaction.” Sasha answered, sipping on a newly brewed cup of coffee. “I’m not an expert on that topic, sir Overseer.”

  “The Elysians are truly something else for inventing something like this…” The overseer rubbed his chin before reaching into his bag. “Alright let’s get this out on a tray.”

  He snapped open the bag, blowing away the leaking steam from the chemical reaction. “That’s a nice hiss...” The overseer commented, before taking a bite of the unfamiliar meat.

  As the overseer joins his workers in having their lunch, Sasha can’t help but feel the difference between this demi-human overseer and the other in the mines. “I’m surprised though, you treat your underlings very well in comparison to the others.” He said, referencing a group of workers being whipped on the other section of the colossal mine for failing to meet the quota.

  “Yah, eye gud thad a lawd.” (Yeah, I get that a lot.) The overseer gulped the meat down his throat before sipping on the warm cup of coffee. “I was once a worker here, due to my debt. I’ve seen stuff. Many are mistreated here.”

  “So you decided to change?”

  “Even if only for some, then I’m willing.” He tilted his head at the twenty workers under his responsibility. “Overseers get paid well, but most just blow their salary on women and other vices here. If not, they just abuse their workers for fun when they’re bored. Besides, I never missed a quota. My workers worked harder with better morale and better tools.”

  “Huh…” Sasha recalled his time in the Army’s boot camp when he served his time. “I supposed I understand that. Morale does seem important in a shithole like this mine.”

  “You’re right, it’s no heaven,” The demi-human overseer finished up his lunch quickly. “But it is life.”

  A loud trumpet suddenly rang through the mine, signaling the end of the lunch break.

  He stood up, washing his face with cold water from a bucket. “I suppose it’s time for us to get back to work. You have a place to be, right?”

  “Yeah,” Sasha answered. “You guys can have the MRE boxes. They’ll last you guys two weeks.”

  “Here you go.” The demi-human overseer gave him a bag of silver coins. “Be seeing you, adventurer.”

  “See you too, overseer.” Sasha bid farewell before entering his truck again. He inspected the computer sitting on the dashboard, checking if the hard drives did contain all the recordings and data he inserted into them for the last time.

  For the past hour, he had been collecting as much information as possible from the locals. From the overseers, to workers and even taking pictures of the area. Informational collecting is part of his job, thanks to Overwatch not having enough time and aircrafts within the operational theater to analyze all the complex terrain and routes.

  This is a new world after all, every information must be collected from scratch. It simply takes time to gather them.

  Sasha suddenly widened his eyes in surprise, seeing a message from his boss in the inbox section.

  “Rendezvous at Var’s Inn. Second floor. Entertainment District. Located Target Charlie’s residence. Op’s at 20:00.”

  “Copy that, boss.” He turned the engine on, driving the truck towards the Entertainment District, located inside the mining town on the outskirt of the mine.

  – –

  Dulbu, Principality of Lior

  Var’s Inn bathhouse.

  Livna washed herself down with a splash of cold water to wake herself up from the effect of the strong alcohol, before grabbing a bar of soap to clean herself up.

  Honestly, getting a bath or a shower is more so a luxury in her line of work, rather than the regular. Can’t exactly bathe while slugging through spring mud, or marching through endless sand dunes on several occasions.

  She thought about her mission in this new world. While she hadn't gone on many missions with Kreuger who usually went on more extreme missions, she knew that her current boss wasn’t chosen for this mission due to his ability to blend in inconspicuously - which he usually often fails - or talk his way into upper management - which is often more luck than not. No, he was chosen for one thing and one thing only: To brute force his way through problems.

  The 101st “Night Stalker” program - created by the Department of War in collaboration with the Federal Security Service - was meant to recruit the best or the most desperate… or the most insane individuals that the United Federation has to offer to the Socialists. They were sent on missions that were considered to be too sensitive or too immoral or too controversial for the country to admit: Targeted assassinations, funding rebels and this time, false flag operations.

  The missions given to them were never recorded, never given names and their contribution to Elysia’s interest and security will never be made public. Especially Kreuger’s, whose service record had been locked away due to the fear of it leaking out to the public. The only time she knew how good he really was at hand to hand fighting was the time his experimental rifle jammed in Yunna, where she and Sasha had broken him out of Zhihao’s palace. The rest of his service was a mystery to her.

  “Get moving, maggots! Where the fuck do you think you are?!” The old drill instructor’s voice rang in her mind, followed by distant memories of abuse and beating given to her and other candidates. “Why are you here, 41?!”

  The candidates to be a Stalker were strictly chosen, handpicked from a young age to be trained into a Stalker in the 101st. The potential recruit must not have a family, no spouse, no children, no friends, no nothing. In other words, people that were at the end of their line.

  “She’s ready.” The drill instructor’s voice echoed to her again, this time at the end of her training. “Time for your final step, 41.”

  Livna looked down on her belly as she wiped away the soap’s foam, putting her hand on it as she was reminded of what was taken from her. In order to graduate from that place, every Stalker must be sterilized and given a new identity before ready for service.

  Her official name was scrubbed from any public document before given the name ‘Livna’, which she had to remember herself by. It had practically become her name since then, as she couldn’t remember her old name anymore. Not like she wants to remember her past anyway, her life before becoming a Stalker in the 101st was a miserable existence of a pickpocket in the roughest neighborhood in Tel Aliya where she had come from.

  The military later shipped her off to a secret site, where she first met Kreuger - who was an empty-eyed orphan then - and hundreds of other recruits, both chosen and volunteers. There were over two hundred young boys and girls when they began their training, but by the end, only ten passed the training course to become a Stalker. The other hundred and ninety? They were all dead from the brutal training, or killed when they failed the course.

  She was tough, she survived, and that was enough for the War Department and the FSS. Kruger on the other hand, killed every single bully that picked on him in the facility for being better. He was a monster in his own right, brutally yet efficiently defeating and eventually killing everyone in his way. That young boy was given the most thorough combat training out of all, while she was given the most thorough social and psychological training to help with blending in. She wasn’t the best at fighting, far from it, but the FSS (Federal Security Service) saw potential in her and let her pass anyway.

  Livna scrubbed the small bar of soap around her body before staring at her right hand, focusing on her fingers in particular. The Azurian leather gloves she had been wearing the whole day weren’t there to hide the scrubbed fingerprints anymore. While wearing gloves wasn’t necessary to hide the non-existence fingerprints, she didn’t want to be reminded of her time in that secret facility hence why she brought them with her on this mission.

  Finished with her cleaning, she moved to the dressing area of the bathhouse to dry herself with a towel, passing through several other women before arriving at the small wardrobe she used to store her Azurian adventurer gear.

  “Ew, seriously? You took on that job?” A young lady exchanged some chatter with whom Livna presumed to be her friend. “Don’t do it! What about your dignity?!” She shook her friend’s head.

  “The Guild Master is willing to pay up to forty gold coins for a night! Just one night, and I’ll pay off my debt AND have enough money to get to Azuria!” Her friend answered.

  The young lady rolled her eyes. “What will you do if your family finds out huh? It’s too dangerous! A fine girl like yourself shouldn’t do it, even just once! I know a good guy that could help you, you don’t have to throw yourself away like that!”

  How fun. To be able to have a normal life and normal friends that you could discuss regular girly stuff with, Livna thought, before returning her attention into the wardrobe. She slid herself into the newly cleaned adventurer outfit, tightening the leather straps around her limbs before putting her mitznefet back on her head again. Of course, only after carefully drying her dark. short, wolf-cut hair.

  Finally, she wrapped herself in the long coat before quickly holstering the RS-46 PDW on her hip. Livna made her way out towards the room which Kreuger had rented for a night, passing by adventurers and merchants alike.

  She knocked on the door in a familiar beating pattern, letting Kreuger know it was her. “Hey, boss.” She said as Kreuger opened the door.

  “Oh hey. You’re back.” Kreuger welcomed her, opening the door fully. “Hop in, got new intel just came in from Overwatch.”

  Livna smiled a bit as she stopped thinking of the past. The Kreuger she knew now versus the time when he was a young boy at that secret facility was a different person altogether, despite him still being an incredibly efficient killer when he’s on the job. Time does change people, it appears to be.

  “What is it, boss?” She walked into the room, finding Sasha asleep and snorting on the bed.

  “We move out in an hour, I’ll debrief ya.” Kreuger quickly threw Sasha’s crossbow onto his lap, which quickly caused him to jump off the bed in a panic.

  “WHA-?!” Sasha grabbed his unloaded crossbow, aiming it around the room. “Oh. Evenin’, boss.”

  “That never gets old.” Kreuger chuckled, which prompted Livna to quickly follow with her own smile. “Come on Sasha, pack your gear. We’re moving out.”

  – –

  Dulbu, Principality of Lior.

  Red Dragon Guild’s Headquarter.

  As the night fell, magical torches provided bright lighting throughout the colossal mine as the miners continued to labor on during their night shifts as the morning shift workers were rotated off to rest.

  The three slid their way through the darker alleys of the town, passing through multiple pairs of guards belonging to the guild as they found themselves right behind the back of the headquarters’s building. Due to Kreuger’s unfathomable luck with his decision to capture Seren, they’ve pretty much confirmed the location of Cotris’s residence.

  Sasha looked up, marveling at the almost ten floors tall building - a rarity in a near medieval place like this - and the flashy decorations on its exteriors. “Woah, you two went inside here this noon without me?”

  “Sorry for that.” Kreuger apologized, checking his suppressed pistol and Azurian sabre. “But at least we have more escape routes should shit hit the fan, thanks to your intel. Now, for the entry.”

  “Oh, right.” Sasha loaded a special bolt into his crossbow, connected to a spool of hard yet durable tether. He fired the bolt upward, making sure that it was secured tightly on one of the building’s decorative stone statues.

  “This is Overwatch. You’re clear to go.” The earpieces on each of their ears suddenly spoke up. “No patrols nearby.”

  After two more bolts, the three secured themselves as they quietly scaled upward on the tethers, careful as to not make any noise or exposed themselves to the bright lighting of the building’s exterior.

  Kreuger aimed his suppressed P-16 at one of the windows leading to a small hallway on the eighth floor, checking the path before quickly retracting himself down a bit at the sight of a pair of guards passing by.

  “The hell was that?” One of the guards leaned himself against the glass window, finding nothing but the wind and the pair of blue and yellow moons with stars dotting around the pitch black sky.

  “Probably just the birds.” The other one joined in, before quickly pulling his buddy back to the hallway. “Come on, get back to work.”

  “Phew…” Kreuger let out a sigh of relief.

  “Boss, on your left.” Sasha whispered to him through the earpiece. “Possible entry.”

  Kreuger looked where Sasha had pointed with the laser pointer attached to his own P-16 pistol, finding a dimly lit rounded balcony on the corner of the building. “Copy.” He whispered, gesturing for Livna to swing over.

  Climbing onto the empty balcony, Livna aimed her RS-46 around. “Clear. Standing by.” She whispered to her earpiece, holding her position as she continued to aim the PDW at the balcony door which was covered by a pair of curtains. The laser pointer beamed a bright stream of light at the door, swinging slightly before Livna stabilized it with her knee after she crouched down.

  Sasha swung by, backing Livna with his crossbow as he rested it on the coffee table sitting on the balcony. “In position, standing by.”

  “Got it.” Kreuger whispered over the radio. “Moving up.”

  Kreuger continued to ascend on his tether, vaulting up to the brick roof. A large glass dome was built between the angled roof tiles, which Kreuger presumed to be used as a skylight. He wrapped another cable around a smoke-belching stone chimney, making sure it was secured tightly before continuing to move ahead to the skylight dome ahead.

  As he approached closer to the sky light, a high pitched scream suddenly yelped out from underneath the small dome, causing Kreuger to instinctively aim his suppressed P-16 at it.

  “Go to Hell! Agh~!” A feminine voice yelled.

  “Shut up, bitch!” A roughened voice shouted in return, followed by audible sounds of slapping. “You run away from me, causing trouble, disrupting my Guild’s operation. You think I’m gonna show you mercy?!”

  Kreuger took off his monocular night vision device before peering into the dome, his hand on the pistol’s trigger. It was Cotris’s room, excessively decorated with luxuries from many parts of the Eastern Continent and even Elysia.

  He looked down into the master bedroom, where a plump man sat naked atop Seren, raping the woman as he continued to thrust his hip into her repeatedly despite her painful reaction. She attempted to resist, but couldn’t as her hand was tied to the bed’s frame.

  She struggled but couldn’t, her hands having been tied to the bed via a series of chains. “You wretched, fat fuck!” Seren yelled as Cotris continued to rape her. “Just fucking die!”

  “That’s the spirit!” Cotris laughed.

  “Most of the bitches that owe me have such terrible will, they snapped just after a couple of hours! Not worth a second of my time. But you?” He leaned down to her. “You are exceptional.”

  “Tsk-?! You think you can break me-? Agh~!” Seren said, trying to catch her breath between the thrusting.

  “Let’s see about that!” Cotris unchained her limbs, allowing Seren to grab his arm as she pressed her nails against his skin. “That’s right!” He continued to laugh before grabbing her hands, rolling Seren on her back before easily binding her hands again.

  Back above the skylight, Kreuger watched the scene unfold. “This is Blue-1. Contact Overwatch. I got eyes on Target Charlie. Request permission to open fire.” Kreuger whispered through the earpiece connected to the small radio on his back as his pistol pointed moved towards the plump man sitting on top of Seren, with P-16’s glowing iron sights aligning perfectly on Cotris’s head.

  “Negative, Blue-1. RoE dictates no firearms unless there is no other choice.” The voice over the radio spoke up.

  “Come again, Overwatch. Request permission to fire. I have Target Charlie in my sight.” Kreuger spoke softly, making sure that Cotris couldn’t hear him from such a close distance. In truth, he just felt bad for bringing Seren to this, despite him not knowing any better. The faster he could kill Cotris, the faster her nightmare would end.

  “Negative, Blue-1. Request denied. Seek alternatives. Repeat. Negative, Blue-1. You are not allowed to discharge the weapon.” The voice over the radio spoke again.

  Kreuger looked up to the sky. Giving the drone circling somewhere above the night sky a middle finger, hoping whoever was Overwatch saw his act.

  “Shit…” He returned to the glass skylight dome, grabbing a throwing knife from one of his pockets as he looked around for any entry. Finding a small window on the dome, he reached out his hand to-

  ZAP!

  “A-” Kreuger retracted his hand from the sudden pain, before noticing the series of… glowing wires? They were connected to an Energy Gem battery down below inside Cotris’s room, glowing an ominous purple and red.

  “Motherfucker…” He quietly cursed at Cotris.

  “Come in, boss.” Sasha whispered through the radio. “I got bad news. The doors on the upper floors seemed to be locked by some kind of… magical system? Liv doesn’t know how to crack this stuff. It has electricity… or mana. I don’t know. I tried shooting an arrow at it, only to have it bounced off. I don’t think bullets could go through.”

  Kreuger reached for his earpiece, his hand still stung from the sudden shock. “Copy that. Just got zapped by it too.” He whispered as he waved his hand around to ease the pain.

  Fucking magic. Kreuger knew his luck just ran out after bumping into Seren at Torpa Valley. He returned to observing inside Cotris’s bedroom, confirming that the fat bastard hadn't noticed the zap he took just then, still focusing on raping Seren.

  – –

  “How does my fat cock feel inside you, HUH?!” Cotris yelled as he continued to rape Seren. “I bet Howell couldn’t give you this much pleasure!”

  “Ah~! Tsk- DO NOT MENTION- Agh~! HIS NAME!” Seren turned her face away from Cotris, trying to bury her face inside one of the pillows. “You’re NOTHING!... Compared to hmph!”

  “And yet.” Cotris pushed the pillow away and grabbed her face. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” He said, referencing her blushed face and body tightening around him.

  “That’s not-!” Mortified, she attempted to protest before her mouth was quickly gagged by Cotris’s hand. “Mmmhm!”

  “Shhhhhhh. I know. I understand, Seren. If that’s what you want.” He took a long breath as he continued to gag her mouth until she quieted down, before moving his hands down to her arms. “I’ll give you something Howell couldn’t give you.” Cotris’s smile turned ecstatic, squeezing on Seren’s arms to stop her from moving.

  Seren’s eyes widened slowly as terror creeps in, catching on Cotris’s growing excitement. “D-don’t tell me… Y-you wouldn’t dare…! You said you will never do that!” Her mumbling turned into loud denial as hopelessness began to replace terror.

  “My son had turned out to be prideful fucking moron. I didn’t raise him correctly to take over the business, and now he never talks to me unless he needs money. There’s no fixing that little shithead.” He forced himself deep into Seren’s insides to her discomfort and shame, before lowering himself down right at her face with a devious smile. “I supposed I should just start over, have another kid.”

  “NO-! Mmhmm!” Seren attempted to yell in protest before Cotris forced his tongue into her mouth, gagging her as she tried desperately to push him off.

  Cotris breathed as he picked up the pace, thrusting faster and faster into Seren as the previously quiet, sloppy sounds between them turned audible even from a distance.

  “You’re my wife now! JUST TAKE IT ALL, YOU SLUT!” He exclaimed joyfully, having finally climaxed inside her as he let out a relieving exhale.

  “N-NO!!! Get it…! Out… !” Seren’s eyes slowly turned blank as her arm pushing against him became weaker with every passing second. Tears began to fall from her eyes as the sloppy, warm substance continued to be forced into her womb, having failed to get him off of her before he climaxed.

  “Phew…” Cotris pulled himself off of her, taking a long shot of alcohol as he looked back at Seren laying miserably on the bed before wrapping himself in an expensive piece of cloth. “I’ll be back later for another round, get ready until then. I’m finding something to eat. You try to run again, I’ll make sure you will never see the light of Solaris again.”

  Cotris left the room, slamming the door shut as he locked it with a key, leaving Seren alone inside the room. She wrapped herself with a blanket as her few drops of tears turned waterfall as she buried her face inside the thick cloth. “Howell… forgive me…” She sobbed.

  – –

  “What do we do now, boss?” Livna whispered through the radio channel. “I heard all of that from the bug you put on Cotris’s clothes. We don’t have any other backup plan besides shooting our way up to his residence on the 9th and 10th floors.”

  “Fuckin’ RoE.” Kreuger bit his tongue. “Time to improvise.” Kreuger whispered, quickly yet quietly rappelling down to the 8th floor’s balcony on the corner of the building as he regrouped with his two teammates.

  “So, boss. Your call.” Sasha said, preparing the arrows on his leather quiver.

  “This world is so full of shit we don’t understand yet.” Kreuger raised a finger, reaching into his pouches. He produced a couple of experimental Wind, Water and Frost Gem cells, courtesy of AMRA. Given to the group upon their arrival at Freyra. “There’s gotta be something here that we could use to break the magical security system around that fat fuck’s penthouse.”

  “Blue Team, be advised. We got a special guest entering the bottom floor. Seems important.” Overwatch announced over the earpiece, which prompted Sasha to investigate by peering down from the balcony.

  A modestly decorated six-horses carriage stopped at the front gate of the tall building, with a particularly well dressed man exiting it before quickly being flanked by several guards holding what appeared to be old, wooden bolt-action firearms. Model 1924s, Sasha identified the outdated Elysian rifles through a binocular. “Don’t tell me…”

  The man’s carriage bore a clearly different banner from that of the Red Dragon Guild, despite being hard to see in the dark night. Sasha squinted his eyes, before turning on the night vision mode on his binocular. “Wait… the Golden Stone Guild?”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Sasha focused on the well dressed man, zooming in the binocular before recognizing the man’s face. “What the fuck? Meredith Hywel?!” He exclaimed.

  “Huh?” The other two joined in, peering down the balcony. “The fuck he’s doing here?!” Kreuger whispered aggressively as Meredith walked quickly into the building, passing through guards and servants alike.

  – –

  “This is Overwatch. We lost visual on VIP.” The voice spoke over the radio. “Request update.”

  “Copy that, Overwatch. Maintaining surveillance.” Kreuger spoke to the radio, his feets against the wall as he dangled on the tether overlooking the front gate. “VIP is entering the A.O.”

  Meredith Hywel, Guild Master of the Golden Stone Guild, currently favored by the federal government to be made the new ruler of Lior if their operation succeeded in eliminating the big three. If he turns out to be working with, or have good relations with the Red Dragon Guild, then he’d have to be put on the hit list as well. But that can’t be, all the information the Department of State and Department of War had collected and given to the 101st suggested otherwise.

  Either way, they’d have to chime in on how the situation unfolds.

  “Liv, stay here. Keep your ears on the listening device.” Kreuger ordered her before moving to Sasha. “You’re her security.”

  “Copy, boss.”

  Kreuger stood up before leaping off the stone balcony’s barrier. Swinging around on the dark side of the building as he chose a window on the lowest floor he could get to without being spotted as he set his gaze through the glass.

  – –

  Living Room.

  Cotris sat down on the large, soft sofa, taking a puff of a premium branded cigar he bought from a merchant travelling in from Azuria. The Elysians’ sudden arrival on Sorval was certainly an act of divine intervention. Their wealth, their technology and their luxuries - all far more advanced and comfortable than any goods he had experienced even from top artisan - was nothing short of marvel that can only be compared to the highest of luxuries imported from Celestia.

  After a brief notice by one of his female servants, he had adorn himself in his usual elaborate robes and flashing as he prepared a bottle of the alcohol known as whiskey on the table ahead of him. Awaiting for Meredith’s arrival as he took another puff of the flavorful cigar.

  The doors suddenly burst open as Meredith marched into the room, clearly furious about something.

  Cotris lifted his cup. “Hey Hywel, how’s life goin-”

  “YOU AUTHORIZED AN EMBARGO ON RAW ORE TO MY GUILD?! NO WARNING, NO EXPLANATION?!” Meredith confronted him, yelling angrily at the plump man sitting on the sofa.

  “Tsk-” Cotris clenched his jaws, raising a gesture to the scantily dressed female servants standing in the living room. “All of you, leave us alone.” He ordered as he took a final puff of cigar before extinguishing it in the ashtray.

  “As you wish, Master.” The dozen servants in the room nodded their heads before they made their way out to the door, shutting it with an audible click.

  Now left alone with Meredith, Cotris spoke first. “Why are you so angry about such a trivial matter? You and your guild are also making quite a boon from the sale of oil and facilitating trade with the Elysians.”

  “The Elysians wanted to buy even more ore, more minerals… minerals that your guild controls.” Meredith explained. “They may be civilized, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that they would tolerate your extortion further. The Elysians will act.”

  “Extortion, you say?” Cotris stood up, shaking his head. “You’re the Guild Master of the largest merchant guild on the Eastern Continent, you should’ve known how we work. The Elysian companies offered us as much money as they could to purchase our resources and goods, and the earth is limited in its riches, what’s wrong with me wanting the most profit per ounce of ore?”

  “You greedy bastard…” Meredith grumbled.

  “Don’t judge me too harshly, I’ve had mercy on your guild. You know how lucky your guild is to be able to buy minerals at a reduced price so you could continue selling iron around the Eastern Continent?” Cotris scoffed loudly. “I’m a generous man to those close to me. Yet you, Meredith Hywel, Guild Master of the Golden Stone Guild, used my generosity to resell the cheap ore and minerals behind my back to the Elysian at an even lower cost that my guild is selling to them.”

  “It was a good deal for them.” Meredith said clearly, affirming his position. “And so was it for us. It was just good business.”

  Cotris paced around the living room, picking up an apple from a bowl. “It was, indeed. But I can’t help but wonder, when will Prince Eirian have you killed for your insolence?” He took a bite, chewing on it as he waited for Meredith to think about the implications of what he just said.

  “What?” Meredith froze for a second before resuming. “That brat has no reason to have me killed, even when we’re on bad terms. I brought in too much revenue through paying taxes to this kingdom.”

  “You’re still believing that?!” Cotris broke into uncontrollable laughter. “In just a few weeks after the Elysian’s arrival in this world over two months ago, my Red Dragon Guild and Lanto’s White Tassel brought in more income and gained more influence combined than your guild could generate in a year!” Cotris continued to laugh. “What a fool!”

  “Tsk- and what of the insolence you speak off, Cotris? What crime have I committed?” Meredith asked him.

  Cotris dropped the apple on the floor, slowly walking towards Meredith. “The Elysians do not permit the sale of their so-called firearms to Lior. Yet, your guild was able to purchase them without much in the way of bureaucratic or legal trouble.” He said, squinting one of his eyes in suspicion.

  “You are colluding with the Elysians, buying their weaponry to strengthen your Guild in order to threaten Prince Eirian’s rule and power due to your dying influence.” Cotris accused him.

  Meredith wanted to protest, but found Cotris’s reasoning hard to deny even if it was false. The wood-covered rifles used by his personal guards and others within his Guild were bought from unknown Azurian merchants in Freyra, in order to help defend the Guild’s interests from the growing hostilities with Red Dragon and White Tasset Guild. The shady merchants didn’t explain where they got them, only that they did and that they only sell to the Golden Stone Guild members and so, he authorized their acquisitions by the merchants within his guild to defend themselves and the Golden Stone Guild’s interest.

  “Who’s the ‘we’ that you speak of? Lanto and I, knew that the brat sitting on that throne is shoulder deep in the Red Dragon Guild’s payroll, which consequently, means that he’s on your personal payroll. That kid has no real power in this Principality.”

  “Precisely.” Cotris flashed a confident smirk at Meredith before returning to his sofa, plopping his feets on the table as a display of power. “I won, sir Hywel. You better start getting in line and stop running your mouth at people far more powerful than you are.”

  – –

  “You think Lanto would tolerate this?!” Livna listened in through her earpiece as Meredith continued on with his outburst. “This is going to be two of our guilds against yours!”

  “Oh please, Hywel. Lanto no doubt despises me, but he also equally hates you. He’d rather stick by his business than try to start a war with my guild. I suggest you learn from him, and be a good little merchant like you’ve always been. Stay out of the affairs of others and focus on your own.”

  Livna let out a sigh of relief, thankful that they were on bad terms already. It would be difficult - and frankly awkward - to have Meredith secretly be on the same team as Cotris. “Seems like we’re fine.”

  “Found a possible entry in.” Kreuger whispered through the radio, dangling next to a 6th floor window on the dark side of the building. “A bunch of those service maids just exited from the west side of the building. Two guards at the door leading to the 7th floor. Don’t seem very professional.”

  “Copy that, boss. What’s the call?” Sasha chimed in the frequency.

  Kreuger let out a long sigh. “It may be cruel, but I have a plan. You can choose not to follow.”

  “What plan do you have in mind?” Livna asked.

  “We all have cyanide pills in case of being captured. Check yours, Liv.”

  Livna produced a small bottle of pills from her smallest pocket, opening it before looking inside. “I have four tabs, boss.”

  “Great. We’re gonna give one to Cotris.” Kreuger said in a calm tone.

  Livna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “W-what? I’m not hearing wrongly, am I?”

  “What are you saying, boss?” Sasha asked him, puzzled about Kreuger’s plan. “How are we going to force feed him this stuff?”

  “We won’t.” Kreuger answered ominously. “Seren will.”

  – –

  “This is Overwatch. You’re clear to enter.” The voice over the radio spoke to them. “No signatures.”

  “This is insanity.” Sasha commented, readying an arrow on his crossbow. “Very much your style, boss. Just don’t make it like Zhihao’s palace again.”

  “Depending on how it goes.” Kreuger prepared his throwing knives. “Liv, you ready?”

  “Yeah,” Livna racks her RS-46 PDW before putting it away to switch to her knives. “Ready.”

  The 6th floor, identified as the servants’ floor to separate the servants from Cotris’s penthouse. The floor is mostly empty, as most of the servants are on their shifts for the time being. Kreuger must admit, the building’s construction is far more impressive than he thought, considering the near-medieval technology this place had.

  “Be advised, we got another carriage entering the AO. Unknown identification, heading towards the headquarters.” Overwatch announced.

  “Copy that. Overwatch, we’re going radio silent.” Kreuger answered before quickly switching to local frequency only.

  “Fuck me.” Sasha laments. “Another guest? Who even visits at this time? It’s almost midnight!” He whispered angrily before shutting his radio off as well, tuning to local frequency.

  “No idea. Sasha you keep your eyes around here. We're heading in.” Kreuger whispered, cranking the window leading to the empty changing room as Livna jumped inside silently first as she readied her weapons.

  “Copy.” Sasha nodded.

  “Clear.” Livna whispered, followed by Kreuger with his own confirmation inside the darkened room.

  The room was a typical dressing room, filled with mirrors and drawers with the exception of arcane lighting using Energy Gem as sources of power, transferring their power along what appeared to be luminescent paint.

  Kreuger had seen magical lighting using Magical Gems in Azuria, but not really up close before, as only mostly wealthier individuals can afford to use Energy Gems like this. He ignored the arcane light as he refocuses on the mission, pulling open a small drawer next to the window and placing a makeshift bomb inside it, made from an Energy Gem and a Wind Gem and wired together electronically to make contact with each other on the command of the radio detonator.

  AMRA (Advanced Military Research Agency) had given him just enough instructions to let him know how these Magical Gems work. If the amount he used was correct, this should blow a hole in the wall or at least, blow out the window from the sudden overpressure to create a quick escape route once they finished with their work. “Clear. Bomb’s set.”

  They peered into the hallway, finding only a couple of the usual scantily clad maids in veils and silvery light body chains flirting around with what appears to be Golden Stone Guild’s guards - Meredith’s personal guards, most likely - holding wooden bolt action rifles. The hallway was typical, with nothing standing out besides what looked like a manacomm device sitting on the wall.

  Livna peered out as well. “If the FSS is secretly selling these guys leftover rifles from the Imperial era, at least they should’ve let us know.” She pursed her lips. “At least these guys are mostly on our side.”

  “Not yet, they aren’t.” Kreuger said before pulling back into the room. “We need to find a way to-”

  DING! DING! DING!

  The manacomn device outside rang audibly through the hallway, prompting one of the female servants to come and answer. “Yes?” She spoke to it.

  “Alright, a bottle of wine to the Guild Master Llywelyn’s living room. I’ll be on it.” The girl puts the manacomm device back onto the wall before giving herself some light slaps to the face. “Jeez… he was worse than even the rumors. But I have no choice! It’s forty gold coins a night! Let’s do this!”

  Livna peered her head out again to investigate, before quickly retracting back into the room to avoid being spotted by a familiar individual. Meredith walked past the changing room, fuming with anger for what Cotris had done to his guild.

  “I can’t believe this bastard!” He continued to angrily ramble on as he headed downstairs with his guards.

  A service girl walked by holding a bowl of fruits before being allowed in by the guards, with them opening the door for her to enter Cotris’s penthouse as the girl who answered the manacomm device walked towards the wine storage area.

  “Looks like the maids here get a free pass to get into Cotris’s penthouse. No checks, it seemed.” Livna commented.

  Kreuger looked around the dressing room, finding anything of use that they could use. “There’s gotta be something here that we could use…” He opened a closet, finding a spare set of one of the scanty uniforms along with the veils and light body chains.

  “Um.” Kreuger gulped, turning his head to Liv nervously.

  Livna stared at it for a long while in disbelief, before rolling her eyes as she came to realization. “Oh… come on.”

  – –

  “I’m really sorry for this, Liv.” Kreuger stared at the fancy looking carriage mentioned by Overwatch moving towards their building, briefly glancing at Livna’s nude reflection on the glass before continuing to observe the carriage again.

  Sounds of metallic hooks of the leather straps untangling themselves around Livna rang clear throughout the quiet changing room as she began to undress herself, beginning with the leather armor sets before moving to the inner shirt and finally the pants as she pulled them down with grace.

  “It’s alright. We don’t have any other choices.” Livna said shyly as she clipped the flashy silver body chains as well as the thin veils around her slim body, which is now completely nude. “Do they not have anything to cover my breasts and bottom?... What a sick, fat fuck…” She commented as she looked at herself in one of the mirrors.

  Kreuger turned his head around before quickly glancing away as Livna combed her hair. She combed her hair, decorating her earpiece with silvery accessories before putting it on her ears. “Comm’s set.”

  “Hey boss, mind snapping a picture? The AMRA lab pukes wanted souvenirs from this deployment for the magical gems that he gave us.” Sasha asked through their earpiece.

  “You snap a picture, Kreuger, and I’ll skin both of you alive.” Livna said menacingly, ignoring the command hierarchy entirely as she looked at Kreuger with a killer gaze before turning towards the door.

  “Let’s just… focus on the mission.” Kreuger let out a sigh as he pulled out his knives. “I’ll get them both if you can distract them.” He said to her, trying not to stare at Livna’s F-cups.

  Livna exited the room boldly as she stopped covering her breasts with her arm, passing through other unsuspecting maids in similar attires, or lack thereof.

  She had to wear some revealing outfits before in order to blend in: Scanty dresses, bar girls… but never this extreme. Refocusing on the task, Livna went into the kitchen where the girl who answered the manacomm was preparing two wine glasses and a large bottle of Azurian wine on a metallic tray.

  “Excuse me,” Livna faked a smile, putting her hands on the tray. “I’ll take over this for you.”

  “A-are you sure?” The service girl asked.

  “It’s alright, you can take a rest!” Livna insisted.

  “Alright then. I wish you luck…” The girl answered nervously.

  Pushing the service cart along with the drinks down the hallway, Livna made her way past the changing room where Kreuger flashed a thumbs up at her. She continued to make her way to the penthouse’s stairway entrance, where the pair of guards stood tall.

  “Hold up there.” One of them suddenly stopped her. “I’ve never seen you before…” He lifted the metallic visor on his helmet.

  Livna dropped a lewd smile. “Oh really?... Are you so incompetent as to not recognize me?” She put her hand on her chest, running along the circular curves of her breasts before pressing on her nipple.

  The pair of guards’ eyes blinked rapidly, seemingly unable to focus. “I-I uhh… I’m not sure-” One of them mumbled.

  “What are you two doing?!” The head maid walked down the stairs leading to Cotris’s penthouse. “The Guild Master’s patient is anything but long. I cannot tolerate any delay!”

  “M-my apology!” The guards put down his visor as he bowed before quickly letting Livna through.

  “I’ll punish both of you later~!” Livna said flirtatiously as she maintained her smile, making sure the guards’ attention remained focused on her slim form and swinging waist as she marched up the stairs with the head maid, joining the awaiting the nearly dozen women holding food trays and drinks.

  As the door moved slowly to closing, Kreuger’s form suddenly appeared behind both of the guards, quickly silencing them with two well placed stabs to their throats, before professionally dragging their lifeless bodies away with next to no sound.

  – –

  “We’re sorry for the delay, Master Llywelyn.” The young head maid bowed as the dozen women behind her swiftly restock the drinks and fruits in Cotris’s penthouse before moving to sweeping and cleaning the place.

  “Hmph.” Cotris lit another cigar, smoking it as he relaxed on the chair.

  “I’ll take over the top floor, madam.” She said to the head maid, finding an excuse to reach Seren.

  The older woman turned her head, giving her a nod of approval. “Very well, be on your way.”

  Livna moved up to the tenth floor through the circling stairs, which is where the master bedroom is as she continued to pretend to clean. After making sure that nobody is around, she pulled out a bobby pin from the back of her short hair and began picking on the door lock quietly yet skillfully.

  Security had become laxed after successfully infiltrating Cotris's penthouse. While she didn’t want Seren to do this after what they did to her, the fact that Kreuger suggested that Seren do this meant that if she succeeded, then it would practically be impossible for the Liori to investigate the cause of death and motivations that could be blamed on the United Federation, while the government gets to deny its involvement in Cotris’ death. A very immoral strategy, but one seemed perfectly sound.

  The door lock snapped open, allowing her to turn the handle with ease.

  “I’m in.” She reported quietly over her earpiece as she slowly but carefully walked inside the room.

  “Copy. Rendezvousing with Sasha outside. Ready when you are.” Kreuger whispered. Clicking his flashlight on the skylight dome atop Cotris’s room to notify Livna of his presence.

  Seren lay buried in the blankets, unaware of Livna’s presence within the room as she continued to sob painfully as she covered her belly. “It-it’s all over…! I’m just a slut now… forgive me, Howell… Someone… please help me…”

  Slowly marching up to Seren before standing next to the bed, Livna reaches out to her as she taps on the sheets. “Hey. Can you hear me, Seren?”

  The blanket pulled down, revealing a far more miserable woman than when she was first initially captured. “Y-you’re…” Seren mumbled, before widening her eyes in surprise. “You’re with those two! What are you doing here? And why are you in that outfit-”

  “Shhhhhh-” Livna quieted her down, covering Seren’s mouth with her hand to calm her down. “I want you to listen to me, very carefully, Seren.” She emphasized the last part, making sure Seren would understand before she nodded.

  – –

  As Livna carefully explained who she really is to Seren, and why they’re here after disabling the magical security system around Cotris’s room. Kreuger stood by the window, cleaning his bloodied knife - a result of the two guards he killed - before putting a hand up to his earpiece. “Sasha, any movement?”

  “That fat ass is still in the living room, flirting around with some of the service women. Looks like he hasn’t noticed one missing yet.” Sasha’s voice rang over the earpiece as he chimed into the bug on Cotris clothes and observed him intently.

  “So… that’s how it is. Why do you want me to kill him specifically?” Seren asked Kreuger, not understanding the depth of the plot she’s in as she wiped away her tears. “You Elysians could’ve killed him yourselves.”

  “Let’s just say that, it’s not advantageous for us to have everyone know that we did it. You, on the other hand, have every reason to kill that fat bastard.” He answered before sighing in disappointment. “We’re sorry for dragging you back into this shithole, we didn’t know. You don’t deserve this.”

  Seren was angry at them, but they have their reasons. If she follows through with poisoning Cotris, the three who have brought her to him would guarantee her safety afterward and get her out of here.

  “We could get you to Elysia, where you’d be safe.” Livna explained, holding Seren’s hands. “But only if you help us. This one time.”

  Seren stared at Kreuger, already knowing his true implication. “I don’t want to get to Elysia, or Azuria. I want to be with my husband…”

  “Then help us, Seren.” Livna said.

  “All of you are spies. I would be killed anyway after you have revealed yourselves to me…” She looked at Kreuger. “Am I right?”

  Kreuger smiled in defeat before returning his focus on her. “You’re a sharp woman, Seren. I’m surprised that you haven’t lost your wit after what happened earlier. We can help you find your old husband Howell, if he’s somewhere in the mine-”

  “Boss, bastard’s coming back!” Sasha warned over both of their earpieces with a panicked tone.

  “The choice is yours, Seren.” Kreuger spoke to her before hopping off the window and closing it, quickly scaling up to the roof using his tether.

  No time, Livna quickly jumped down to the floor and rolled herself under the master’s bed as before covering the gaps with the bedsheet, covering her mouth to stay quiet.

  “...”

  Now left alone, Seren stared at the small plastic canister of poison pills on her hand called cyanide. They’ve just given her an opportunity, and left it to her to choose. Making up her mind, she grabbed a pair of the poison glass pills before putting them both in her mouth, throwing the plastic can inside the trash bin.

  Feeling like she had to, Seren took one of the Cotris’ hard drug tabs inside the room before burning it with a candle. She lowered herself down, snuffing the entire thing as she began to feel the lightening effects of the drugs running through her mind.

  – –

  Cotris bursted into the room, noticing Seren sitting on a chair by the balcony in silent. “Hmph. Have you made up your mind about committing to be my wife?” He asked nonchalantly before noticing no response from Seren. “What’s wrong with you? Answer me, slut.”

  He looked over to his right, noticing the tab of drug burning on an ashtray before looking back at Seren. “Are you high? Seriously?”

  Seren stood up from the chair before removing the robs around her before the moons’ light to him, revealing her bare body. “So what if… I am-?” She answered in a dizzied tone, before slowly pacing towards Cotris.

  “Are you gonna hurt me like he did, Howell?” She stared at Cotris’s face, putting her hand on his chest as she pressed her body against his. “I-I don’t want you to. I want you to embrace me…!” Seren cried.

  “Oi, you really are high…” Cotris smiled. “S-so are you willing to be my wife now?”

  “YES!” She yelled excitedly before pushing Cotris’s back onto the bed, hopping on top of him before grabbing his swollen penis. “I love you, Howell. Don’t leave me alone like you have…”

  Cotris broke into laughter again, lifting both of his hands as he grabbed Seren’s hip. “Forget him, you’re mine now, slut.” He said.

  “I’m not yours…” Seren suddenly switched up, mumbling aimlessly. “I belonged to Howell… I miss him…-”

  Cotris tightened his grip around Seren’s waist, lifting her hip slightly as he forced her way into her insides again, but this time not to her pain, but to her pleasure. “Damn…! That felt good. Your body is truly unmatched, Seren. You’re already wet. This is the first time you’ve done this for me, do you really want my kid that badly?’ He smirked confidently.

  “We’re supposed to have a family together, Howell… yet that bastard took you from me.” She continued to mumble.

  SLAP!

  Cotris swung his hand across her face to Seren’s shock. “That’s enough of your bullshit, you’re mine, slut. Your Howell is dead. Be a good girl and say it. ‘I am yours’. Say it!” He grabbed her by the breasts.

  She turned her face around slowly, her hands shaking as she covered her cheek where Cotris slapped her. “I-I am…”

  “Yes? Out with it!” He insisted.

  Seren’s suddenly landed on at Cotris’ face as she wrapped her arms around his head, giving him a deep kiss to Cotris’s surprise. He stopped thinking, overwhelmed with joy and his ego inflating from succeeding in breaking Seren’s mind.

  Seren cracked the pair of glass pills inside her mouth, biting it as the content inside them quickly leaked. She immediately burrows her tongue inside Cotris’ mouth, tightening her grip around his head.

  Cotris suddenly convulsed from the sudden sharp pain inside his mouth, trying to push Seren away. “AGHHAHH-”

  As foam began to leak out of his mouth, he attempted to grab her arms but was unable to with her wrapping them around his head.

  “I… will never be… yours…” She lifted her head up to his face and began smiling lightly despite the pain.

  “GET OFF OF ME YOU BIT- AUGH!” Cotris quickly gives her a punch to the belly before pushing Seren’s convulsing body off the bed as he pressed his hand tightly on his throat, trying to understand what’s going on before ceasing to move entirely, with the cyanide killing him instantly.

  “Howell… I’m coming… to see you.” Seren mumbled despite her foamy mouth, paying little attention to the stinging pain before ceasing to breathe entirely, her body lying lifelessly on its side towards the bed.

  – –

  Livna pulled up the bed sheet, sorrowing at Seren’s empty, lifeless eyes and frozen smile before rolling out under the bed quietly.

  “...”

  She turned to Cotris, checking his pulse to make sure that he’s dead. Detecting no pulses from his arm, Livna put her hand on the earpiece-

  “Death before disloyalty.” Kreuger suddenly commented, slightly spooking her. “I respect that.”

  “Don’t you feel bad for her, boss?” Sasha said through the radio frequency.

  Kreuger’s eyes focused on Seren’s light yet happy smile on her lifeless body. “We’re Stalkers, just giving her choices meant that she’d had it better than most of those we had killed, and she’d made one for herself.” He pulled down his monocular again, turning it on. “Let’s get out of here and rendezvous at the embassy in Freyra. Go grab your stuff, Liv.”

  “Eh, boss. I just noticed something.” Sasha said.

  “What is it?” He pushed against his earpiece.

  “Remember the new carriage that Overwatch mentioned a while ago? Yeah I just noticed, it has the Order of Scarlet insignia on it.”

  “Owain?” Kreuger recalled from memory the tall-looking knight that they had met during their bike trip to Freyra.

  “No, I don’t see anyone like that. It’s just one smaller guy. Couldn’t see his face, he was wearing a large-ish helmet. Unknown.”

  “Probably just someone from that group who came to claim his money and good time at the club down below.” He answered, turning to Livna before averting his eyes slightly, realizing that she’s still naked before folding the detonator. “Go to the changing room and collect the bomb, looks like we won’t be needing it.”

  – –

  Clipping the final leather strap on her adventurer outfit, Livna let out a sigh of relief before preparing to leave. “Phew, nice to have proper clothing again.”

  “I feel the same, those outfits are outrageous!” A young girl in the changing room said to her as she finished with her own clothes, having completed the night shift. “At least we’re rich now! I’m thinking of going to Azuria or Elysia, wherever I can afford.”

  “Good luck to you then.” Livna answered, wearing her mitznefet.

  Since the shift was over, Livna figured she can just casually grab her clothes left behind in the previously empty changing room as Kreuger and Sasha awaited her on the building’s roof to extract.

  The changing room’s door was suddenly knocked on, before a familiar male voice spoke up from behind the door. “Tina, you’re in there?”

  The young girl walked towards the doors, creaking it open. “Jeez, Young Master. You know this is the women’s changing room right?” She asked politely.

  “Where is my father?” The mysterious individual asked, his hand holding on to the door. “I didn’t hear him anywhere. I have… some matters I need to ask of him.”

  “Eh? He must be with Lady Seren now. Perhaps he is sleeping? I do not know the details, Young Master. Guild Master Llywelyn has forbidden us from disturbing him until morning.” The young girl answered.

  “Hm, that’s troubling. Perhaps I will ask him tomorrow.” The young man pushed the door open as he forcefully entered the women’s changing room, ignoring all the other maids who still haven’t finished changing their clothes. “Here’s the thing, Tina. I’m feeling a bit lonely tonight, so how about you accompany me to my room? I’ll treat you well.” He took off his helmet, revealing a face Livna was familiar with.

  Livna widened her eyes in surprise as her heart sank, recognizing the young man. “Oh no…”

  The young man turned his head at Livna, doing a quick double take before staring at her intently in shock.

  She stood still with her eyes widened, her arm moving instinctively closer to her PDW. “T-Trystan?”