-~*~-
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Back at the inside of the building.
Kazuto's body is covered in bruises. Blood trickling down his nose and broken lips. Every move he made, he received all of it was inviting pain to him.
The man who did this to him? Well he is leisurely sitting on the office desk, cigarettes in between his lips. Eyes looking out the floor to ceiling window.
He saw the oncoming military troupe and even spotted Luyao in between the trees. He finally gets the so-called Young Master Zheng to be here. Now all they have to do is convince him to be with the fair maiden.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The once satisfied face now turns to a scowl. He turns to the door and orders whoever it is to come in. The door opens and the man before him is the one that was in charge of handling the remaining hostage in the building.
"What are you doing here? Your job is to look after the hostage, are you not!" The man being scolded lowered his head and let out a profound apology. All was bleak until the man said, "There is someone that is worth more than the Young Marquess here, Sire."
"Who?"
From the side of the door, a pair of bellbottom pants stood before the light. That piercing silver eyes and long lushes sky blue hair. No one can mistake who she is. Even Kazuto's reaction shows the real deal.
"Ah~ The Holy Maiden. Xue Licia Yanyi. Didn't realize we have such a figure amongst us." The arrogant man commented while his previously scowling lips now turned into an even bigger grin. He is quite content in what he has in his lair now. Even more than before.
Kazuto, who is on the floor, can only grit his teeth in frustration. He had hoped that Yanyi's identity would not resurface at the current time. After all, she is the most prize possession of the Empire.
They can use him to conquer Kinsel.
But they can use Yanyi to conquer the Empire.
Yanyi slowly walked into the room before her eyes caught sight of the one on the floor. Kazuto is eyeing her in disappointment. He clearly is not happy to see Yanyi here. That is when she signs with her fingers on her side, 'I HAVE A PLAN.'. Reluctantly he has to oblige to whatever she wants.
The man now properly sat on the office desk while his eyes bore holes on the person before him. "It's great that you are here. We can have more options to negotiate. After all, if the crown prince knew the state of which his sister is, he would by no further try to save you."
"Then do it." She provoked him.
He didn't take the bait however. His eyes dilated as he turned to the huge window. "Although, I think we can have an even better bargaining deal."
He walks over to the intercom section and shouts the following words. Letting it reverberate through the whole park.
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"Young Master Zheng Luyao! Present yourself to the entrance of the tower! We have two good deals that you wouldn't want to miss!"
That announcement caught everyone off the radar. Even Irene, who is currently swimming through the hidden streamline, is shocked. They had realized the powerful bargaining chip.
Yanyi was caught.
"Hurry! We must make haste!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
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The man in question clenched his fist tightly. Nearly drawing blood. He can figure the first bargaining chip is Kazuto but the moment he heard two he knew who it would be. "That damn, girl." He complained to himself.
"Sire?" Lieutenant General Xing called out his name with a question mark. The decision is now up to the man before him. They are equally worried for everyone in there but calling the Young Master Zheng means that they have caught two of the most important people to him.
Luyao stayed silent before stating, "Proceed with the infiltration plan. I will go and satisfy their wishes."
"But sire-!"
"Your main objective is to get the hostage inside to safety. For the one on the rooftop we have the marine troops to handle that. My safety comes third."
"But…"
"The Young Marquess of a non-fallen family is still inside. Not only that, the empire's precious person, the Holy Maiden is also with them. They are much more important than the young master of a collapsed house."
"..."
"Understood?"
"Yes…Sire…"
Luyao walks over to the bridge and soon enough he is taken inside and escorted to where the others are waiting.
WHOSH…
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The man is smirking, eyes smiling as he watches the young inspector approach the building. "Well it wasn't so hard to catch his attention now is it." He commented, eyes darting to where the sofa is located.
Yanyi is sitting on the said sofa, neither of her hands or legs are bound. Instead around 5 men are surrounding her, watching her every move. You can't let your guard down with people like her. Even a simple rope bound is not enough.
Kazuto has also been moved to the other sofa. His legs were freed but that doesn't mean he can move freely. He is still in pain from the bruises.
After a few minutes of waiting, the door to the room was opened and in came the Young Master Zheng. Eyes as sharp as the tip of a blade. "Ah~ Young Master Zheng. I have been expecting you. Why don't you take a seat first?"
Luyao looked over to the other part of the room and saw the two hostages on the sofa. One is heavily guarded, the other is not laying down from the pain.
His eyes are kept on Yanyi for a good few seconds before she slowly nodded, confirming that neither of them is dead, yet at least. Getting that confirmation, Luyao does his bid and takes a seat on one of the available chairs.
"I will cut to the chase immediately. Come with us, young master. The Fair Maiden has been waiting for you." He smirks as he holds out a hand to Luyao. Hoping or forcing him to join them for the safety of the other two.
Luyao didn't budge. Instead he stares down at that disgusting palm and looks back at the man before him. "And who is this fair maiden you are speaking of?" He wasn't about to follow someone who he didn't know. Please, he's not a kid okay.
??? — "Ah, the Fair Maiden. The saviour of the empire. One that will topple down the corruption brewing inside."
Luyao — "What corruption? As far as I am aware, the empire has been treating their citizens with care. Even those who had no home were given a chance but refused to seek help. What is unfair?"
??? — "The Fair Maiden… will liberate the land. From these monsters…"
The man pointed to where Yanyi was seated. The girl did not make a single sound or movement. Taking everything, fingers that are pointing towards her with ease.
Luyao is not about to stay silent when the Holy Maiden is being tainted with words. He gave out, "What makes this Fair Maiden much more important than the Holy Maiden of Volenix. As far as I knew, she had been keeping the state of Rin in the empire stable with her continuous involvement in helping the crown prince."
"Helping the crown prince? Hehehe… Helping or manipulating?" His eyes are now a bit weird. The center is not normal. It's contracting. In a dark room. And he continues to preach as if he is the priest of this so-called Fair Maiden religion.
"The Fair Maiden is the true saviour of the world! This monster has been possessed by an unknown being! One that only wishes the downfall of the rest of the world! If it weren't for her meddling then the Kingdom of Anderil wouldn't have been in such a state with Volenix! She should die! Die! DiE!-"
SPLASH!
Out of the blue, blood spurt across the man's chest. His body that is backing the window was pierced by a black and red blade. One that came from the back. The giant window.
"Wha-What?..."
"I am not about to sit and listen to your senseless ramble while you tarnish the Holy Maiden's name."
"Y-You…" He fell to the ground, clutching his body. "Guards! Kill him!"
"Ouh they aren't able to." The smug female voice came from the sofa. The man looked over to where the only female was sitting and still saw the 5 men surrounding her. Confused, he shouts over and over again.
Luyao didn't bother with his attempt, instead going over to Kazuto to assess his injury. "I guess you are right in some way." Yanyi spoke with a gentle and unnerving tone.
"Only a monster would do such a thing to other humans." Her gentle smile with her eyes is a trap. Her palms, both are empty, yet she gladly presents it before the dying man.
The moment she forms her fists.
ZHROP!
SPLASH!
Every single one.
Every single one of their heads falls to the ground. Yanyi had silently tied her kunai rope to each of their head and body. Controlling them the moment she sat down and killing them off at that exact moment.
Dead eyes from 5 previously alive men stare back at the guy clutching his abdomen. Furious is still wandering in his eyes. Without anyone noticing, he pressed a button located inside of his chest.
Sirens alarms reverberate through the building.
That is an emergency alarm for evacuation. Or for them, to do their final act.
Flashes of body drop to the lake. Many at once as the giant window bears their witnesses. Yanyi, who is mortified, was about to end the man's life when she saw from her peripheral view a fast bullet coming to her head.
Dodging it quickly she hides behind the desk. Rounds of bullets on and on continue to fire. The man escaped successfully.
PEW!
The bullets go silent. "Threat outside neutralized. Location, North East 32 degree from the tower. Building no. 64 level 5. Go and retrieve the evidence." The command came with a few raspy breaths.
Yanyi looks over to where Luyao and Kazuto are situated. Kazuto is still in pain and has used his remaining energy to open up his signia and snipe the sniper. Luyao then carries him like a sack, holtering him on his shoulder.
Yanyi — "You bring Kazuto out to safety! I'll go and get the rest of the hostages and stop the one on the rooftop!"
Luyao — "Irene will handle the one on the rooftop!"
Yanyi — "What?"
Luyao — "She is with the marines and will be saving them the moment they hit the lake. They will be taken to safety and receive further treatment."
Yanyi — "Okay then. I'll get the rest of the people!"
Luyao — "Be careful."
Yanyi — "You too."
They went their separate ways. Yanyi had to go through many hallways and battle grounds as terrorists and soldiers opened fire on each other. These soldiers can handle themselves, she has to get the rest of the people.
Upon reaching the supposed area she wasted no time to end the life of the guard outside and open the door. The eyes that stare back at her is with fear. They have the right to feel so.
"We are going outside! Everyone stays close with their children!" She has no time to think about what is the state of each of them one by one. She can only think of barking orders as she tries to move as quickly as she can.
They swiftly make it out of the building quickly. The route has been neutralized thanks to the soldiers and thankfully most of the hostages are able to be saved.
Most.
Not all.
Unbeknownst to her there are two people that are missing.
The little girl that she had saved beforehand and a very dear younger brother of her.
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Outside of the tower.
Luyao and Kazuto stop at the bridge as they see the continuous flow of people running out of the building. When he spotted Yanyi to be the last person out he voiced his concern. "Where's Eker?"
Only after finishing her duty did she realise her own mistake. She had forgotten to keep her eye on her brother. Worry quickly dances in her eyes as she slowly and unconsciously moves towards the building once again.
Where is he?
Did he get left behind?
Eker?
My brother?
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"MY DAUGHTER!"
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She snapped from her trance as she take a look back and saw a mother begging one of the soldiers who is stationed on the bridge. Kneeling with tears running down her face. "MY DAUGHTER PLEASE!!! SHE IS STILL INSIDE!!!"
"Two people… Children…"
"Yanyi?"
"I have to go back…"
"Are you crazy!" Kazuto screams as he clings onto the side of the bridge.
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"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
A maniacal laughter emerged from the top of the building. Everyone's eyes are now directed to the rooftop. Once a place where many hostages are held. Now it is just a barren area as many of the terrorists have been shot by military snipers.
A man that had held them hostage is now proudly presenting himself. "WHAT THE USE OF BEING A PROTECTOR WHEN YOU CAN'T SAVE ALL OF THEM!" He declare as he show who is in his hand.\
A little girl.
"MY DAUGHTER!!!!"
Crap.
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-~*~-