Hello everyone. Here I am after dropping down my pen for two years. I would like to write story about Crossbell since no localization of this game up until now (well, i did hear rumor, there's going to have it soon). and credit goes to kingdomsavior90 as my beta.
Alright. Here we go.
Prologue: Special Support Section (Part 1)
The room was tidy and a sense of feminine. Books on the shelves revealed the room owner was a hardworking and smart person. Besides, there're some accessories and ornaments from all around the world.
Elie Macdowell stood in front of the mirror, carefully checking on her attire.
She had long pearl grey long hair, naturally fell behind her back. She wore white dress with wine red sleeve. The lower part was of black stocking and a pair of white short boot. There's a thick belt tied on her waist, together with two pieces of plates on both side. That's not for decoration, but used to place her weapon.
"…Good."
By the time she finished checking, someone knocked on the door.
"Elie."
The one knocking the door was an old man. That's her grandfather, Henry. Macdowell, Crossbell City's Mayor.
"I thought you have gone out, grandfather."
"Not before I see you. Today is your first day of work, and I would like to see you one more time before I go."
"Thank you grandfather. I will do my best. You too, take care of yourself while I am not at home."
"No need to mention that. Be careful on work. Grandfather support whatever decision you made."
"I will. Be careful on your way." Elie watched her grandfather left the room, and then turned to one of the photo frames on the table. "I'm going now, father."
"Hey Tio, today you're going to Sergei's side right?"
"Don't worry. I still have plenty of time left."
Light blue hair tied into pigtails with a headset of sensing device mimicking cat ears. It looked pretty cute on the little girl. Protected by an inverted triangle armour and shoulder pad in front of the chest, under the shoulder pad was a short cape, the lower part was pleated skirt and a pair of thigh stocking. Her attire was all in deep blue colour.
Her name was Tio Plato, a tester from Epstein Foundation.
Her fingers danced on the keyboard, not even the director could clearly see how fast it was.
"It is done."
"Done? What is it?"
The director watched the screen closer, and then he found that's the famous orbal network game [BomPeng!]. Tio was overwhelmed the opponent. She used to set traps in the game. When her opponent thought they're going to win, she would activate those traps and sent her opponents to hell.
"Those opponents are weak." Tio described her feeling with a dumb face.
"No, no, no…you're too strong, Tio." The director sweat dropped.
He was a fan of this game too, but Tio was the only opponent he would never dare to challenge. She was damn too strong!
"I should go now, director. Work hard while I'm not around."
"Don't worry. You can always leave it to me!"
"I am worry though…"
She sighed, walking out of the room.
The sunlight was so piercing. She half closed her eyes, tried to avoid it.
"This place is the same as him…so piercing and bright."
Now was not the time to lament on the past. Let's get moving.
"Mr. Randy, you should wake up now."
"My cute Fran, just let me sleep a bit longer…"
Randy Orlando slept on the chair at the entrance of Crossbell Police Station. It was a heaven indeed.
"Oh…where were you going last night?"
"I was dating with those beautiful girls, of course. I was so lazy to wake up in the morning."
"You're never changed, Mr. Randy…" Fran gave up on the conversation, and went back to her position to continue on work.
No matter how, their conversation would just keep on talking about women.
Randy continued on the sleep, never thought his bold figure and blood red long hair was visible to notice.
Since he was fired by the Crossbell Guard Team, he used to live this way. Though it was pretty boring, but it was better than any other days he had in the past.
He loved his lives now.
Today he was going to report to his new job. Well, he still had time left.
Then, a beautiful girl showed up by the entrance. She had pearl grey long hair and busty chest. And with that face of hers, she was indeed a gentle woman. But…she didn't make up to Randy's taste.
Well, it didn't matter right? She was beautiful, after all.
The girl chatted with Fran, and then followed Fran to the office.
As he watched the girls, there's someone showed up by the entrance again. This time, it was a little girl looked like a cat in blue colour. She was cute, if without that poker face.
Too bad she wasn't made up to his taste too. He loved mature women. This little girl still needed time to transform.
A while later, the little girl was leaded by Fran to the office as well.
They didn't seem to come to report any cases. So that's mean…
"Looks like it is time."
Llyod had a dream.
When he woke up from the dream, he couldn't remember what the dream was. He vaguely felt that something had happen to him. He was sweaty and trembling hardly.
"Find me…!"
All he could remember was a voice that was so sad to touch his heart.
What had happened?
"Are you alright?" Asked an elderly couple in front of him. They were asking Lloyd, of course.
Stunning, Lloyd remembered he was on the train to Crossbell City. The elderly couple was the passenger too.
"You seem having bad dream. Are you not feeling well?" The old man asked.
"No, it's not like that. It seems I had a weird dream…"
Lloyd scratched his brown hair, seemed feeling embarrassed.
"Weird dream…is it surrounded by a bunch of sexy girls, and then you are feeling helpless?"
"N-No, I don't think it is a nice dream like that…"
"Come on, stop making fun of the young man." The old lady slight reprimanded her husband, while handed a cup of drinks to Lloyd. "Do you want some lemon juice?"
"Then, I'll have some." The sweetness of the juice helped to calm his emotion, while the sourness was refreshing. "Thank you. It is tasty."
"By the way…you don't seem to be from Erebonia. Are you from Corssbell?"
"Yes. Although I lived in a foreign country for some times, but decided to come back to Crossbell." Lloyd nodded. "It seems you're from Crossbell too?"
"Well yes. We're coming back from a trip to Calvard." The old man gave his wife a glance. "If you're living in the foreign country before, you should be shocked by the changes of Crossbell during these years."
"That's right." His wife agreed to him. "During these two or three years, the changes of the city are so dazzled until you're feeling dizzy."
"Hmm…is it? I did pass by Crossbell a few times by train…it seems there is having a lot of tall buildings, right?"
"You're right. Crossbell is one of the commercial cities in Zemuria. As the financial industry developed, it is easy to attract foreign investors. Since the Peace Treaty was signed, it attracts more and more funds to the city. As billions of funds come in, a lot of stores and offices were built."
And then the old lady continued.
"It becomes convenience nowadays, but it just seems like everyone is chasing the time and Mira…"
Lloyd understood her words.
Although he's in foreign country, he still had communicated with his family back in Crossbell. He knew one or two from there too. Besides, he had ordered Crossbell Times Magazine. He understood more about the changes in the city. But still, Lloyd thought he should see that with his own two eyes.
More importantly, Crossbell was his hometown.
"Attention all the passengers, we are about to arrive Crossbell State, Crossbell City. To take flies to Liberl Kingdom and other countries, please transfer here. In addition, under the Railway Community Treaties, the train will stop in Crossbell Station for thirty minutes. To Erebonia Empire, please fill the entry form and submit to the officer. Wish you all have a pleasant journey."
"Looks like we're almost there."
Lloyd took out a photo from the pocket.
There're three people in that photo. The child standing in the middle was Lloyd. To his right, the one looked similar to Lloyd was Guy, Lloyd's brother. And the woman on the left was Guy's lover, Cecil.
(It has been three years since then.)
A lot of things changed during these three years.
But only one thing would never change.
(Brother, Cecil, I'm back. I'm…finally back to Crossbell.)
The train pulled into the station, Lloyd and the old couple followed the others to get off.
The station was designed with modern sense. This was one of the rapid developments in three years. Compared to three years ago, there're truly a lot of changes, and Lloyd almost did not recognize it. Many people came in and out in Crossbell Station. You can say the station was the gateway of Crossbell State. Since the station was the symbol of economic, both Erebonia and Calvard had sent their officers to permanent reside in Crossbell.
As they got out from the station, they came down to a street. There's a big signboard that written 'Welcome to Crossbell City' at the right side of the station. Upon seeing the strange yet familiar scene, Lloyd couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"Here is the Central Square."
Central Square was the centre of Crossbell City. It was a bustling plaza. In the middle of the plaza, there's a large bell, the symbol of Crossbell State. You can saw a lot of orbal vehicles here.
"That's…orbal car?"
"Yes, but those are only for the rich one."
"And that one is…?"
Lloyd pointed to the shop at the west side of fountain.
"Oh that's the Orbal Workshop, benefiting from the rapid development of orbal network."
Such thing was become quite common now…
"So, you're going to report to your job, right?"
"Yes, but before that, let me help to take your luggage." Since they got off the train, Lloyd had carried three luggages with him, including his luggage.
"Don't worry about us. We couldn't bear if you're late on the first day of work." The old lady took back the luggage. "Now, go."
"We're living at the East Street. Come and find us if you're free. Goodbye for now."
And then, the old couple went to the path beside the Orbal Workshop.
Lloyd took a closer look at the Central Square, and found a familiar building. It located in a lower section, which was connected by a stair.
"That's…I remember that was the office of the Crossbell Times Magazine…"
He smiled.
But now was not the best time to reminiscence the past. He took out a letter from the pocket. That's from HR of Crossbell Police Station. It told that he was appointed to the Special Support Section (SSS).
"Special Support Section, huh? I never heard of this name in the curriculum of the Police School…I didn't receive any uniform either…" What kind of section was that?
As he's in deep thought, he moved.
When he's a child, he used to play at police station. He was so familiar to that place. And now, he's going to be the staff in this place.
At the reception, there's a young girl with brown pigtails. She gave Lloyd a gentle, yet professional smile.
"Welcome to Crossbell State Police Department. How can I help you?"
"I am Lloyd Bannings, will work here starting from today. This is the letter from HR." He passed the letter to the young girl.
"I see…it is nice to have a new colleague. I heard that you have passed the investigator search test. Congratulation!"
"Umm…thanks. I was just lucky." Lloyd felt embarrassed to be praised straight to the face.
"Don't be so modest." She's amused by his reaction. "Please follow me…oh, Chief Sergei, what a best timing."
"Is he coming?" A man with messy hair and bearded middle-aged man came out from the office. "I am the Chief of SSS, Sergei Lou. Follow me. I'm gonna introduce you some colleagues."
"Y-Yes…"
As Lloyd followed behind Sergei, he didn't at ease.
A section that never heard before…is that a new section?
"We're here. Go inside."
Obliged the words, Lloyd turned the knob and opened the door.
The first person Lloyd meet was a tall and bold figure man. He had blood red long hair tied behind his back.
"Is he here?"
The other two people were sitting at the other side of the table. And the two of them were female.
"Sorry for the wait. Well, he's the last member, Come on, introduce yourself."
"I am Lloyd Bannings, from Crossbell. I lived in foreign country before. I come back to accede the position as a police. Nice to meet you all."
It didn't seem that these three people were the seniors…and why there's a little girl here?
"Wow…what a serious guy." The red haired man laughed. "My name is Randy, Randy Orlando. I like to accosted girls and gambling, and read the pictorials. Hey, how about I lend you my secret collection?"
"Eh…?"
"Ahem!" The girl with pearl grey long hair coughed, as well as reminded the guys. "Nice to meet you too. I am Elie Macdowell. I'm from Crossbell too."
"Hello."
"Tio Plato…from Reman State. Nice to meet you too." The youngest girl – Tio nodded to Lloyd.
"Hmm…Chief Sergei, may I know what is this Special Support Section?" Lloyd looked to the others. "Including me…It seems all of us are young."
"That's…a long story. In addition, all of you are exciting newbie." Then, Sergei's phone rang. He took out a device and pressed the button. "I'm Sergei…oh I see."
That's portable communication terminal? Looks like even such thing were become practical as well.
"Alright…leave the rest to me." Sergei ended the call. "Okay newbie, what this SSS needs to do…you all will find it out in a wonderful place."
Here is the prologue part one. Hope you all like it.
Well then, until next time.