It's an expanse of stone yellow open ground.
A brown-haired girl, in black, stood dead still in there, the stunning sound of sandstorm rustling in her ear, with sands into her ears, eyes, nearly objecting all her visions. But she stood still motionless.
Until it bursted with the girl in the centre of the storm starting to mumble something.
"One, two, three, four... five in ambush? Might be a little difficult for me."
The time her voice fell down, a shadow abruptly broke out from a dirt pile, drawing out his pistol directly aiming at the brown-haired girl. Just when he was ready to pull the trigger, the girl before him suddenly vanished.
"Too late..." In a blink, the girl rapidly turned to appear behind that dark shadow, pulling out her twin pistols and shooting insanely up at him.
The shadow fell dead at the roar of sound.
Another two shadows, like lightning, sprung up from the front. They both were very diciplined machine gunners, alternately strafing at the lesser equipped girl, with empty cartridge cases, accompanied by the crackling sound of shooting, rolling down one after another into the ground.
The girl rolled airily forward, avoiding all the bullets and flipping directly onto one of these shadows, her leg brutally kicking off his firing machine gun, in together with, another aiming at his jaw. Subsequently, she stepped on and leap to the rest parts, angling towards the remaining shadows and effortlessly punching them down.
In the twinkling of eye, another two shadows jumped out from the rear, one grabbing her neck to fling her down while the other pulling out his gun, intending to finish this tangled situation. However, the girl seemed surprisingly calm, her elbow severely hit the enemy behind her. Once they loosening, she bent over, breaking her free from those grabs and sweeping them both into the ground.
"It's... over." The girl expedited up her spear at those shadows, eyes on their giving themselves in.
All of a sudden, the earth yellow around gradually fading out, turning into gleaming pure white at length.
"How amazing... handling those five in barely fifty seconds!" A masked man in dark clapped his hand and head out, appearing to be deeply impressed, "You've broken a new record, Pricilla!"
"That's just unbelievable, isn't it Ermita?" Rubel pop in from nowhere, his mouth arcanely curving up," She exceedly improved herself in a very short period, furthermore; this little girl has already surpassed any alternate agents, succeeding in assassinating the former strongest agent named " the faint smile" and faultlessly disguise this murder spot into a suicide one. Flawless."
"As far as her age and comprehensive strength are concerned, she should have undoubtly surpassed any one of formal agents, shouldn't she?"
"Considering her close quarters combat skills, Pricilla might have exceeded anyone on dominating her agility, speed or strength."
"So, why not distribute her 'that task'?"
Rubel silenced, lowering his head. He could not decide, not for doubtful about her ability, nor worrying about such a young, simple girl would betray, but for the current hasty decision to push her going for such an important task. They wouldn't trust her, such a child heading for this mission, which immensely related to their prosperity and decline.
"Inform Rimuto first, then we decide."
"Tch..." Ermita seemed extremely unsatisfied, swinging his arms and slamming the door before taking a big stride out.
Rubel ghostly smiled, shooting a glare at that dazed girl. It's a strange that after admired, the girl wasn't as pleased as she usual behaved, instead, impassive and cold, with a slight gleam of fear revealed from her glazed eyes.
"What's wrong with you? Why unhappy?"
"No... nothing." This brown-haired girl trembled, the same as her voice. She failed to conceal her fear in the end.
"You seem to be... dreaded. Anything happened?" Rubel coldly asked, letting out a laughter," You are a formal agent, here and now, never showing yourself like a timid child."
He lightly hummed, pressing his old,dark hat brim which blocked his face half. A moment after, he produced a communication device from the pocket.
"Rubel, reporting her status, that alternative one to me, now." A deep, throaty voice came from the other side.
"Oh... That's the most unexpected piece of performance."
"How's the rating?"
"S+."
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It's a bright and wide space. Their two sat face to face, eyes on each other, dignified and serious.
"I had a phone call with police sergeant before." Irene leaf through the notes she's taken, another hand holding her mouse, searching for the details on her laptop.
"Teresa... This case has been early closed as a simplex commit suicide in the afternoon."
"What?!" The youth abruptly banged the table with emotion, jumping up from her chair," No way... by no way did my sis motive to kill herself! IT CAN'T BE A SUICIDE CASE! SHE'S MURDERED AND I'M CERTAIN!"
"CALM DOWN GIRL!" The elder woman stood up, trying to stablize her excitement, "Since the police sergeant has ended this case, there's no need for us to register and investigate. You'd better have some time alone and think out her funeral..."
"Why not?! She... she obviously had no intention to suicide..." The short-haired girl wept again, eyes robbed red and swollen.
She used to indifferent, rational and calm, however; her heart was shaken at this very moment. She's a true women, not a rock or other things. By no means was she feeling no pity or other emotions on seeing the girl so in grief weeping in her sight.
"Please... don't cry." She gently pat her shoulder to comfort her, as if it would make her feel better, "Sorry... my condolences."
I'm afraid I cannot help you... anymore.
Right this moment, the weeping girl in vision suddenly fell on her knees, holding her thighs tightly.
"Please, Miss detective, please help me to investigate! How much am i supposed to pay?" Clare cried out loudly, " My sister Teresa... She was always hopeful... and strong, she cannot kill herself! Please... give me your hand, to find out the true murderer!"
She, who's all long stubborn and persisted, was deeply moved by her earnest words somehow, unexpectedly, feeling for particular herself. She's intending to set out an investigation, just for the sake of the poor girl right here.
"Stand up, child." Irene pulled up the girl, whose knees were worn off and simply replied, " Nothing should be paid. I'll accept your request."
Clare, who was choking with sobs, now smiled through tears, hands firmly grasping hers with excitement:
"Thanks... thank you so much Miss detective!"
"Just Irene would be fine."
"Thank you Miss Irene..."
She gently smiled, taking her car keys out.
"Tell me where the spot is, and we'll get there together."
"Hmmm! I'll lead the way." She nodded her head with eyes wide open.
This child...is even more stubborn than me. On seeing her tears-filled lamps, she sighed in a smile: " Don't waste our time, let's head out now."
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At dusk, faint yellow rays of light filtered through numerous concrete high-rise buildings, shadowing them down on those jam-packed streets.
Miria, sitting on the platform of a high-rise, overlook those dense, countless vehicles, which stucked on jammed highways, in disgust. Temporality, she's wearing a set of dark tight-fitting bodysuit, seemingly lightweight, yet filled with all sorts of weapons and equipments inside.
She's in need of rest, and three days were far from enough. But she had to stay there and kept waiting, complying with commands issued by her boss-the organization. The same was her partner.
"I only hope Rimuto will raise our wages someday." Miria grumbled in a low voice, then she heard a slight chuckle from the earphone.
"Don't you forget how stingy he is?" She sounds quite delighted, and all the while they carried out tasks, Galatea was happy within, always. What an odd fellow.
"Yeah, Rubel is the most generous man I've ever seen, compared with him." Miria coldly sneered, drawing her infrared night vision on and slowly getting up.
The sight of depressing green immediately burst into her eyes.
"How's your computer?"
"Successfully linked to the satellite, now displaying your three-dimensional coordinates in high definition."
"What about sniper?"
"Fully loaded, field adjusted within six-hundred yards, target in."
"Tactical plat in this area?"
"Now downloading from the satellite, progress ninty-nine percent."
"Fine. I'll sneak in to seize the target within sixty seconds, through air vent on the roof. Keep your constant attention on the target and guide me the way, you need to be careful. Stay in contacts."
"Roger that."
She slightly raised her mouth, gesturing her partner from distance, afterwards; kicked off the long-ago loosening cap and drilled herself into without hesitation.
It's shorter and more narrow in the vent-pipe than her thought, and she had no choice but creep forward. The vison of endless channel and sense of repression lingered through.
Thanks to the night vision, at least she could be clear to the road.
"Tell me where is the exit, Galatea."
"Wait a second."
After some moments, her familiar voice echoed from the earphone.
"The exit is open to the upper part of the hallway in the thirtieth floor, while the target was in the twenty-ninth."
"Inform me of the detailed routes and methods!" She felt like mad in this dark and sticky pipe.
"VIP room is located there, in the thirtieth floor, and it would be empty if their honored guests haven't come. But... there would be two security guards going the rounds between the stairs and corners, yet that's the only way to go."
"You'll find the target in the Presidentoffice in the twenty-ninth floor, where densely populated. You may avoid their line of sights, or choose to worm your way in disguise."
"Affirm."
She crawled hard, and soon, the rays of exit appeared.
Miria spurned the fragile cover below with her head downward, looking all way around to confirm her secrecy.
Still nobody. Everything just goes well.
She cautiously crawled out of the pipe, noiselessly, falling down to the floor. Her body appressed to the wall beside, trying not to make any noise.
When reaching to a corner, she revealed her head to check ahead, the security office fortunately lying in the end of this hallway. After enlarging the vision, she saw one of the guard reading his newspaper, fully relaxed, and by no means was he monitoring the circumstance around.
Another careless security. What a luck.
She kept on creeping her way forward alongside the wall, while the security remained staring at the newspaper, totally neglacting her existence.
Considering herself lucky, Miria rolled straightly into the ladder way.
The moment she thought she could lower down the vigilance, a flash of light abruptly ripping into her eyes, forcing her to enhance the alertness.
"What... what is it?!"
Before he was able to react, a fierce elbow blow directly hit on his back neck, speedingly knocking him out of consciousness.
If only the noise wouldn't alarm another guard in this hallway... She wondered.
Miria quiely stole a glance at the other side of the security office from the edge of the door, until finding that stupid guard still gazing at his newspaper, she let out a long, heavy breath.
She sped the way down the stair like a shot, deftly ducking all the passerbys, and quickly arrive at the outside of the office.
She push the door slight open and saw from the crack, only finding this room dim, and empty, with curtains drawn airtight. Though kind of weird atmosphere made her feel uneasy, soon, she stepped in and set out searching for the target.
The spike-haired girl first shot a rough glance around, while the target did not turn up from outside. Maybe it's hidden in drawers... She thought to herself, heading for the nearest closet and starting to rummage. After overly checked, nothing was found in the office.
It's stange... the target didn't show up anywhere. How can it be?...
"I've been waiting for you." An deep, unexpected male muttering came from the other side of the corner. Miria raised her eyes with shock, she suddenly backing her off to the side on the alert. The rotary chair in the middle slowly turned, a dark-masked man appeared in her eye-sight. When her eyes extending, she surprisingly realized what's in his hand was exactly what she was casting about for-a digital camera.
"Who... who are you?" She stuttered in shock, however; the man seemed to have the situation.
"Have any ideas about what's in it?" He pointed at the camera and gently asked.
"No." She pretended to be calm, "Give it to me, now."
"I'll tell you all..."
"BRING IT TO ME!" Miria blew her cool and got excited," It's the last warning, or violence will solve."
"If you can win, then it's yours." He humphed with provocation, " The camera is right there."
Finally, she lost all the control, rushing toward and throwing out a punch, while clenched firmly by his left hand.
Refusing to being inferior, she twisted her waist to stroke his lower body, yet he cleverly siding himself and dodging. Meanwhile, the man seized the gap and caught her right leg with his only-left hand, kicking on her another maintaining one.
She tripped down, while flipping back to stablize her bodyweight.
Why... why was he handling me like he'd already known my combat tricks? Average enimies I've dealed with could not even take my first strike... Look likely I have to get serious.
Miria drew a dagger from pocket tied on the base of her thigh, getting ready to fight a showdown.
"Humm..." The man chuckled a bit, stretching his backhand rightly catching the coming sharp edge, then pulling her over the shoulder, pushing the girl severly to the ground. The night vision on her face gradually fell down into pieces.
However, without regard, the edge piercing through his face had entirely ripped over his mask.
When composing, Miria pushed herself up a little, clapping her eyes on a well-informed face... with dark hair, silver eyes... yet completely different from the past, now fully scarred and emotionless.
"Rigald..."
He was gazing at her, his silver-white eyes cold and detached, as a lion dwelling on its prey.
At the first moment, huge amounts of doubts streaming on her mind. Why was he opposing her? How did he learn of her mission? It's been so long... and that's all what he wanted for her?
She froze there in trance, like a dropped puppet.
The second she recalled herself, he had already broken out the window. Curtains were fluttering, in the blowing wind, with broken glassed scattering on the ground, tearing her naked skin apart, several streaks of blood oozing from the wound.
Yet she wouldn't feel the pain anymore.
This time, she could no longer sense anything, only numbness in her heart.
The light of setting sun fading, the night closed in, the glare of spotlights emerging in this sable city. She stood very still, staring in at the broken glasses, a drop of tear streaming down her blank face.
"Hey, Miria! Have you found the target! Please answer me!" Galatea's hurried voice came out from her earphone, " I see you there... Are you alright?"
Bit by bit, she patted her clothes and got up, leaving all the ruins behind.
"Mission failed."