-Chapter 9-

The sweet taste of red wine lingered on his tongue as he let out a sigh of relief. The venerable vintage swirled around in his glass as he watched the hustling and bustling surrounding him. Golem specialists worked fast to repair and rearm the behemoths tasked to them while the pilots rested and recuperated from battle. Sitting in a chair with one leg tactfully crossed over another, he set his glass down as a subordinate of his approached him.

The soldier stopped in front of him and rendered a proper salute, snapping to attention. "Sir, the latest reports from the Athenian Front," he said, a hint of apprehension in his voice as he handed over the papers to his superior.

The messenger gulped as he saw two intimidating pilots standing behind the man seated in the chair, acting as his personal bodyguards with their swords visibly shown on their hip. One of them had it kept on her right while the other had it on their left side. The pair of young women had identical, unwavering expressions on their faces as they remained flanked behind the officer, their long, black hair swaying in the breeze.

The man in his seat took the reports and opened them up, reading them with increasing curiosity as he read on. "Oh? The general has been killed? How tragic," said the man to himself, lacking any sympathy in his voice for his fallen comrade. "And what's this? We have our own to blame for this atrocity? This simply will not do. Have you informed Gen. Lupin of this?"

The messenger snapped to attention, giving a prompt response. "Yes, sir! He has also given me instructions for you, sir," he said, handing over a piece of paper.

After he finished reading the report, he took the piece of paper and looked it over. "I see. Tell Units 11, 12, 14, and 15 to break ranks and head to Athens immediately," he said before returning to his wine.

"Sir, is that all?" asked the messenger with a shaky voice, avoiding the urge to make eye contact with one of the two female bodyguards.

The gentleman finished his drink and set his glass back down on the table. "No. Tell them to intercept this Foxhound Squad while in Athens. I want the heads of these traitors on my desk by the end of tomorrow," said the man, giving the runner a firm look.

"Y- yes, sir! Right away!" said the courier as he hurried off to relay the orders.

Once the soldier was gone, the bodyguards leaned forward and asked. "What was in the report, Colonel?"

The colonel sighed and glanced to the report on the table. "Gen. Morrios has been assassinated in Athens. And not by the enemy, no. But by the members of Foxhound Squad, that new independent unit," he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Surprised to hear the news, the bodyguards gasped in unison, which was the fashion they normally did things. "Gen. Morrios has been killed?" said one of the bodyguards.

"And by friendly forces?" said the other bodyguard.

"This is correct. Lupin wants me to send a team of Shadows to intercept the perpetrators and kill them. The report has Foxhound Squad located somewhere around the Halst Region heading towards the border. They should be able to cut them off before they cross over," said the colonel.

Pondering something in her head, one of the bodyguards couldn't help but ask a question to put her mind at ease. "But, sir, isn't Capt. Lansin part of Foxhound Squad?" The other bodyguard glanced to her, thinking the same thing as well as she waited for an answer from the colonel.

The colonel sighed, interlocking his fingers together as he rested his chin on his hands. "Indeed she is, but regardless of her former position as my unit's captain, she is now an enemy of the state and must be executed," he said, his tone steadfast.

The twins grinned wickedly at the same time upon hearing that, giggling silently to themselves. "It'll be our pleasure to bring the former captain to justice," they said together, their voices harmonizing with an ominous tone.

The colonel chuckled as he leaned as he leaned back in his seat, contemplating the recent developments coming from the other front. "Now now, there's no need for you two to get your delicate hands dirty with something like that. Yuki, Ami, your place is by my side," he said, looking over his shoulder to each of them.

Exhaling contently, they each placed a hand on one of his shoulders while the other was poised on their swords, ready to defend their leader with their lives. "But of course, sir," they said in unison.

"Dearest Leena has her work cut out for her. Whatever the reason may be, she is considered as good as dead by the Shadow Corps," said the colonel.

Suddenly, another of his subordinates came running up to him, panting heavily. "Col. Hellstrom! We have enemy golems on the move towards our position!" he said after catching his breath.

"Well, looks like my break is over," said Col. Hellstrom as he got up from his seat. "Let's go say hello," he said as he began making his way back to his golem, followed closely by his malevolent bodyguards.