< T.D. SECURE NODE – LOGIN >
Operator: Meteorite
Cipher Key: ███████
Status: Identity Confirmed
>> Initializing mission log…
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[ MISSION LOG // ARKNET TACTICAL HUD ]
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> OPERATION DESIGNATION: QUIET CARRIAGE
> PRIORITY LEVEL: BLACK // EYES ONLY
> DATE/TIME: 09.23 VST
> AO: LONDINIUM, VICTORIA
> WEATHER: LOW VISIBILITY / AIR QUALITY INDEX: HIGH
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> FIELD TEAM: TOMBSTONE SQUAD–07
> SQUAD LEAD: OPERATOR "METEORITE"
> SUPPORT: 07-B // 07-C // 07-D // 07-E
> PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- EXTRACT VIP: DUKE KENT OF WINDERMERE
- STATUS: PRIORITY ASSET / HIGH-VALUE POLITICAL TARGET
> SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:
- ATTEMPT CONTACT WITH ANY TRUSTWORTHY VICTORIAN MILITARY PERSONNEL/ARMED VICTORIAN FACTION WITHIN LONDINIUM.
- IF COOPERATION OR PERSUASION IS POSSIBLE, INITIATE RAPPORT.
- ESTABLISHING RELIABLE LOCAL CONNECTIONS IS ESSENTIAL FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS.
> INSERTION POINT:
- LONDINIUM PERIMETER ACCESS ROUTE L–12
- EXPECTED HOSTILE PRESENCE: MODERATE–HIGH
- LONDINIUM GUARD ENCRYPTION: UNBREACHED
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> HIGH COMMAND DIRECTIVE:
"This operation must not reach the Military Commission.
Parliament is to remain unaware.
Extract the Duke of Windermere from Londinium without leaving a trace."
— ENCRYPTED CHANNEL // VERIFIED
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> NOTES – OPERATOR "METEORITE"
- Maintain low-signature profile.
- Suppress detection by Victorian Intelligence Bureau.
- Zero collateral; zero exposure; zero evidence.
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[ END OF HUD FEED ]
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— TERRITORY CROSSING VERIFIED —
YOU ARE NOW ENTERING: VICTORIA
Operation Status: LIVE
As the plane entered Victorian airspace, it gradually descended. Each mobile city in Victoria belonged to a different duke or earl, each with its own laws. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Meteorite ordered the plane to land at the nearest mobile city.
After the aircraft parked outside the city, the group disembarked, said a brief farewell to the pilot, and walked in as casually as possible.
Victorians despised Sarkaz, often calling them "devils." Perhaps because the war had ended only a few years ago, they deliberately made trouble for the five of them. Even though Meteorite and the two Sarkaz mercenaries wore hoods to avoid trouble, trouble still found them.
In the end, the two adventurers used persuasion and charm to appease the gate guards. A small bribe spared them from further harassment.
Meteorite sighed at the reality of things. Soon after, she rented a pickup truck and headed straight for Londinium.
At the access route L-12 near the city outskirts, they encountered a military encampment. Because the capital was nearby, Londinium had tightened its inspections. Vehicles lined the roadside, each stopped and checked. A Victorian soldier in uniform was examining identification documents one by one.
When he approached their truck, he caught sight of Meteorite's horns and immediately scowled. He clicked his tongue in disgust and barked, "Damn devils. What business do you have in the city?"
"We're operating under orders from the Military Commission. Do we need to report that to you?"
Meteorite's voice was cold. The soldier spat on the ground. "Watch your attitude, devil. We can crush that pathetic pride of yours anytime we want. This is Victoria. Not your Military Commission's territory."
"Then are you done? Will you let us through?"
The officer's face flushed with anger at her indifferent retort. He grunted and waved them off impatiently.
Meteorite stepped on the accelerator.
"I didn't expect Londinium to be this divided internally," Platinum remarked in her usual airy tone. "If this friction continues, Londinium might plunge into a brutal civil war."
"The Military Commission has already lost Kazdel. Londinium is all they have left. They won't give it up easily."
Meteorite's voice was steady. "Even if Parliament stays silent, the streets are filled with hostility toward the Sarkaz."
The group entered the city. Meteorite led them into the industrial district. Sarkaz figures could be seen everywhere here. The team changed clothes, dressing like ordinary Sarkaz workers. No one suspected a thing.
They could see several Sarkaz standing guard outside the factories in the industrial district. Their eyes were sharp and dangerous, scrutinizing anyone who approached, Sarkaz included.
After scouting the area, the group of five went to the address provided by the Duke of Windermere. There they found the Duke Kent's temporary residence: an elegantly decorated Western-style villa. Several men stood around the building, and it took only a single glance to know they were surveillance personnel. Most were Felines, which meant they were agents placed by the duke and count keeping watch on Duke Kent.
That did not mean the Sarkaz weren't watching him as well. Meteorite sat inside a café, sipping sweet hot cocoa as she discreetly observed the villa, looking for any possible opening.
"It looks like this won't be an easy job."
Platinum let out a small yawn. "Leaving with Duke Kent without any casualties will be difficult."
Meteorite agreed.
The five stayed in a non-tourist district near the slums. The area was full of people from all walks of life, and few ever showed a friendly face to a Sarkaz. The Military Commission had no reason to come here to get themselves killed, so both sides simply kept to their own territories.
Platinum soon went out to scout. Even after joining Tomorrow's Development as a mercenary, she sometimes still wore her former Platinum Executor uniform. For infiltration, however, her clothes were more subdued. Her long, striking platinum hair and refined features already drew enough attention.
Her sharp hearing picked up bits of conversation from the passing thugs. This territory belonged to the Glasgow Gang, though their boss hadn't shown up for a while, and their turf was slowly being eaten away.
Platinum knew that the most reliable place to gather information was the slums. Because the area was a maze, people here rarely lied after being paid, unlike those in the black market who often traded in false information.
She also understood that Tomorrow's Development had countless adventurers. Setting aside the army formed by the King of Liberation, the number of high-level Terran combatants like her was still small compared to the adventurers.
If she wanted to advance within Tomorrow's Development, she needed to recruit. There was an internal referral system, and bringing in more people would eventually lead to promotions. With that in mind, Platinum tied her long hair into a neat ponytail and headed toward the Glasgow Gang's territory.
As an unfamiliar face from outside, she might be mistaken for a tourist. But the gang's underlings did not believe a beautiful Kuranta woman would wander this area at such an hour.
They were about to question her when the Kuranta vanished in a few swift leaps.
"Damn, she's a pro."
"You think she's from a rival gang?"
"Since when do rival gangs have girls that pretty? Use your head."
Platinum had no interest in dealing with small fry. She quickly arrived at the gang's central hub: a boxing gym called "Jawbreaker." Few people went in or out, and several tough-looking members were keeping watch nearby.
Truthfully, if the Military Commission wanted to take over the slums completely, these so-called "guards," fierce enough to fight over turf, wouldn't survive even a single round. Their heads would be on the ground before they realized what happened.
They simply weren't on the same level.
Platinum considered her options, then lightly tapped her foot and moved to the back door of the gym.
"When are we leaving, Boss? Time's running out."
The voice came from inside. After a pause, he continued, "The Military Commission already has all the exits watched. If we don't leave now, we'll be trapped here."
"Morgan, what do you think?"
"I agree with Indra. We really should go. Boss, those nobles up high won't make a move. It's better to prioritize our own safety."
"…Dagda, your thoughts?"
The speaker had a calm, steady, yet firm voice.
"I… will follow everyone's decision."
Platinum sat on the roof, listening. Years as the Platinum Executor had honed her skills in concealment, and she had never forgotten them. She might be a simple mercenary now, but if Felix needed her, she could return to being the assassin known as Platinum at any moment.
"Where will we go?"
Silence fell again as soon as the question was asked.
"The land of Terra is vast. Is there anywhere we can't go?"
"Morgan, your thoughts?"
"I think it's better to first find a faction to rest with. If the four of us leave Londinium and work alone, it'll be far too dangerous. And if we go to another mobile city, we'll just end up as unwanted outsiders."
"I agree."
"…I only hope we can leave safely."
The calm, dignified voice spoke again.
Platinum's lips twitched slightly. In the next moment, every hair on her body stood on end. It felt as if someone far away were staring straight at her, ready to snuff out her life at any moment. She rose instinctively, her hand reaching for her back, only to grasp nothing.
Her composite longbow had been left at the inn to avoid suspicion due to its size. Now, with her skin crawling, she squinted toward the direction of that gaze. All she saw was the golden light of sunset.
No one was there.
"Who's there!"
Her sudden movement on the rooftop carried into the gym below. The door burst open with force. Platinum sighed. No matter how she explained it, her first impression here was ruined beyond repair.
Five minutes later, inside the gym, Platinum stood at a distance from four women dressed no differently from street thugs. She could have escaped easily. With her skill, losing these four amateurs would have been trivial. But remembering her mission, she chose to cooperate with the questioning.
"Who are you, and why were you eavesdropping on us?"
A white haired Feline cracked her knuckles with a fierce expression. "Is she from a rival gang? Can I take her out?"
"Calm down, Indra."
The woman called Morgan spoke. "There's no way a silver-haired Kuranta is part of a rival gang. She also showed no hostility and cooperated. That means she came here for something, doesn't it?"
Platinum nodded lightly. "It's easier speaking to someone smart."
Indra's fist tightened.
"I'm a mercenary from Tomorrow's Development. I came into Londinium to complete a mission."
Platinum's tone was even. "I'm here to discuss a transaction."
"Tomorrow's Development… wait, that name sounds familiar."
Indra tapped her fist against her palm. "Isn't that the organization run by that Sankta guy?"
"Felix Lanshem."
The dignified voice spoke again. She let out a soft sigh. "It has been years since we last met. I wonder how he is now."
"Let's talk about this transaction first."
Morgan glanced at the quiet Dagda, looking somewhat troubled.
Platinum nodded. "I need to extract someone from Londinium. It seems you know a route that avoids surveillance."
"We do. But if we tell you, what do we get in return?"
"You'll be homeless once you leave Londinium, won't you?"
Platinum asked the question, then answered it herself. "Tomorrow's Development might be a good destination for you."
"Tomorrow's Development?" Morgan had never heard the name. What surprised her more was that Indra, who had opposed the idea earlier, suddenly went silent.
The woman with the dignified voice stepped forward. She extended her hand to Platinum. "I am Siege. I met Felix once. Tomorrow's Development may indeed be a good choice. I accept this deal."
Platinum was slightly surprised. Judging from her attitude, she truly knew the boss. That made negotiations much easier. She stepped forward and shook her hand. "Platinum. Since you intend to join Tomorrow's Development in the future, why not act with us for now?"
"Leaving Londinium together… I think that's a fine proposal."