The third wave of assassins hadn't arrived yet, but the stench of that rustic smell of metal intensified with each passing moment. The blood merged with the bathwater, dripping into the drain beneath us. Alisa was initially dazed during the ordeal, but after getting her affairs in order with Sharon, she came back out with a resolute look in her eyes. While I suggested where our route would take us, the floor suddenly quaked again. BOOOOM!
A second explosion resounded inside the Reinford Group's building beneath us. Alisa didn't exclaim in shock this time, but surprise still appeared in her eyes.
The once and quiet dark night of the peaceful industrious city of Roer was now lit up in flames. A blazing fire could be seen not only on the left side of the Reinford Group, but also on the right side now, thanks to that second explosion.
A loud siren soon began to blare throughout all of Roer. Those who were looking to enjoy a meal with their families then call it quits for the day felt the ground subtly shake, only to see the Reinford Group building shoot up in flames. To say the least, the people started to panic...
During this chaos, a second group of people could be seen with petrified looks in their eyes, quickly fleeing the first floor of the Reinford Group. Along with them were a couple of soldiers, and a single, beautiful-looking woman with a stern look in her eyes. Unlike others, she appeared annoyed that someone was disturbing her work flow. She had the same-colored hair as Alisa does. Thankfully the two explosions happened within the middle floors. This woman, along with most of the other workers, managed to escape in time. It was then one of the late-working managers approached her.
"Madam Chairman, I think we have everyone accounted for. Wasn't your family staying further up in the Penthouse though? We can't reach them!", The manager asked, obviously worried. It was a man, and he turned around, only to see several floors shattered into pieces. A raging fire was sweeping floor after floor. And yet, the Penthouse seemed untouched. The woman, who was of course Irina Reinford, wasn't disturbed by what was going on, apart from the fact her current work was halted.
"You needn't pay attention to that. Just focus on getting everyone else to safety. Sharon is with my daughter. She will do anything it takes to protect my daughter. That is the task she is currently assigned to do, after all.", Irina said, and scoffed at the sight before her. "Seriously, I can't believe someone would be brazen enough to attack our headquarters of all locations. We will launch a full internal investigation once this settles down."
Spending another moment, Irina saw her pride and joy go up in flames. Debris broke off from one of the floors, and fell down some floors. About a third of the way up from the ground floor.
Several more figures quickly approached Irina with panicked looks in their eyes. They were the very same workers who were currently trying to meet deadlines for a long, ongoing project. The Orbal Railway Cannons. The very same cannons you would see get fired off at Garrelia Fortress when Class VII tries to stop them. Irina paid them no mind. Instead her eyes remained focused on the building itself. Every so often, a shadow would emerge from one window, only to quickly hide into another floor. There were several of them. Perhaps in the twenties. If one looked closely, some had swords, while others had daggers.
As these figures moved around in the darkness of the night, a third group started to approach them. They were trying to keep the peace from erupting further chaos. All of them were dressed in gray, military uniforms. The Railway Military Police. Amongst them was one particular icy, blue-haired woman. Approaching Irina, she gave a salute.
"We have it from here, Madam Chairman. We will require your cooperation to ensure your safety, Please follow us outside of the city. On behalf of the RMP, I can assure you your safety will be of paramount importance to us, as well as securing the rest of your family.", The woman said. Who else could it be but Claire?
After Claire said that, Irina revealed a smile.
"Heh. To think those lap dogs would send the Icy Maiden to handle this mess.", Irina said, and turned around to look at Claire. It was a condescending smile. "Still, it is your duty to uphold the peace. Roer acts as a major junction for your little railways, doesn't it?"
"It does. Madam Chairman. I did not think someone would actually dare to attack this place and disturb the process flow. I am sure His Excellency is deeply ashamed this came into existence.", Claire responded, keeping her tone polite. She disregarded Irina's demeanor. Another RMP officer arrived next to Claire, and gave her a salute.
"Captain, we've secured the perimeter. It looks like whoever is attacking this place hasn't been found yet, but you may want a look at this.", The officer said, and passed Claire some orbal binoculars. Taking them in hand, Claire traced the direction the officer was previously looking at, and soon got a visual.
What Claire saw sent a cold drop of sweat down her back. A nervous one.
It was a violet-haired boy with crimson strands...walking up the side of the Reinford Group building while carrying a golden, blonde-haired girl on his back?
"Please don't tell me who I think it is...", Claire uttered. She felt her stomach sink. She wished she didn't look into the binoculars to see who it was atop the side of the building. Sure, he looked different, but Claire knew well who the boy was. But what he was presently doing was even more shocking. After all, his body was currently horizontal to the building. Only his feet were attached to it. Ignoring the fact that the boy was carrying Alisa on his back.
Claire could only sigh at such an incredulous sight. If Naoto was here, Claire immediately assumed he knew about the ongoing attack, whoever it was. As if time had slowed down, Claire saw Naoto unsheathe what appeared to be a rapier, and while carrying Alisa on his back, he suddenly struck forth against one of the assailants. The attack was clean, and effective. Despite having the vantage point from up above, the assassin's neck was pierced through, causing blood to splatter onto the side of the building. The assassin's body then dropped downward, and disappeared behind the building.
Claire didn't say a word seeing someone attempt to attack Naoto.
On the contrary.
The atmosphere around Claire decreased several degrees. She isn't called the Icy Maiden for nothing.
"Secure the building. Leave no one alive.", Claire commanded the other RMP officers. She then looked back at Irina. "Madam Chairman, I can confirm no harm has befallen your daughter. It is as you said."
"See what I mean? Alisa is in good hands.", Irina replied with a curt nod. She acted like she had expected this answer. She joined up with the rest of her company's workers, and got to work, even though the Reinford Group was currently under siege.
'How can you think of work at a time like this...', Claire thought to herself. Seeing Irina depart with the rest, Claire had another look at the building. Several RMP Officers rushed inside, armed and ready.
It didn't take long for more figures to arrive on the scene from another direction of Roer. This time, from the north. They all had similar uniforms similar to the RMP, but they looked far more distinguished.
"Just what on Aidios's name do you think you're doing!?", A commanding voice exclaimed, aiming a complaint right at Claire. "This is our jurisdiction. You have no right being here!"
"Says who?", Claire asked, her eyes turned cold. A hidden pressure swept around the newcomers, and a few of them shivered.
"We of the Provincial Army. That's who!", The commanding voice said, who appeared to be a Captain of the local Provincial Army. "We've been tasked to uphold the peace here on behalf of House Rogner. Call your troops back at once!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. I'm under strict orders of His Excellency the Chancellor. Or would you rather want to raise a complaint with His Excellency? I can put you on a direct line of communication, if that is what you prefer.", Claire coldly said, squinting her eyes at the funny-dressed Captain of the Provincial Army.
"You...", The Captain tried to say. Seeing Claire not budge an inch, he knew well he couldn't clash against a high-ranked subordinate of the Blood and Iron Chancellor. "Fine. We will lodge a complaint to His Excellency at a later date. We will continue securing the perimeter."
The Captain quickly folded, just like that.
"Good choice. Even you're not as dumb to realize time is of the essence here.", Claire said. Seeing the Provincial Army here to take care of Roer, Claire turned around. She now had the burning building in sight.
Withdrawing her orbal pistol from her holster she often uses during Cold Steel's story, Claire didn't hesitate, and ran inside the burning building.
Claire had little time to spare. She ignored the entire Provincial Army. She could leave the rest of Roer to them...
With Naoto now on the scene, Claire's priority has completely shifted. After all, Chancellor Osborne has one hidden task for all of the Ironbloods that was presently in effect.
No matter who it was, if they see Naoto in danger, the Ironbloods are to protect him at all cost.
Even if it meant changing sides.