9 - Maxime Gorm

"Ryo, Kana, Haru," Akihiko whispered into the communicator, his voice steady despite the tension in his muscles. "Positions?"

Kana's calm, collected tone came first. "Sniper post secure. Two guards at the terrace entrance. Blind spot confirmed on the southwest side. Recommend entry through there."

Ryo chimed in next, his voice tinged with his usual smirk. "East patrol is consistent, three guards cycling every six minutes. I've placed a jammer on the camera grid, should give us a ten-minute window, max."

Finally, Haru's steady voice came through. "I've infiltrated the outer perimeter. Lockpicks on the ready. South gate's clear when you give the word."

"Good work," Akihiko replied. "Stick to the plan. Silent entry, no alarms."

As the countdown began, Akihiko steadied his breathing, letting his instincts take over. His eyes flicked to the southwest corner Kana mentioned, where a small maintenance door offered the most discreet way inside. Silently, he leaped from his perch, his landing barely a whisper on the ground below.

"Moving in," Akihiko murmured as he approached the door. With practiced efficiency, he produced a set of lockpicks from his bracer and began working on the mechanism. Seconds later, the lock clicked, and the door swung open just enough for him to slip through.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted. The mansion was eerily quiet, its opulent halls adorned with gilded frames and pristine marble. Shadows stretched along the walls, flickering under the dim glow of ornate chandeliers. Akihiko's every step was calculated, each movement seamless as he wove through the building.

"Akihiko," Kana's voice came through, urgent but quiet. "Two guards heading your way from the west hall. Armed, but distracted. Looks like they're chatting about tonight's guests."

"Copy that," Akihiko replied. He ducked into an alcove, pressing his back against the cold stone. Seconds later, the guards passed, their boots clacking against the polished floor. He waited until their voices faded before slipping out of his hiding spot and moving toward the main staircase.

"West hall clear," Haru updated. "I'm at the second-floor library. Found some documents... Uhh? Looks like blueprints for something. Uploading scans now."

"Good. Keep searching," Akihiko instructed. He reached the base of the staircase, his gaze sweeping the grand foyer. Dozens of guests mingled on the floor above, their laughter and clinking glasses echoed in the room. Among them was Maxime Gorm, though Akihiko had yet to lay eyes on him.

Ryo's voice came next, uncharacteristically serious. "Akihiko, heads up. Hostiles inbound from your six. Two-man patrol, heavily armed."

Akihiko didn't need further instruction. He slipped into a side corridor, pulling a smoke bomb from his belt. When the guards rounded the corner, they were met with a burst of smoke, disorienting them just long enough for Akihiko to strike. He emerged from the haze like a phantom, his hidden blades flashing as he took them down in quick, precise movements.

"Guards neutralized," he whispered, dragging their bodies into the shadows before continuing on. His heart pounded, but his movements remained steady.

The closer he got to the ballroom, the more layers of security he encountered. Motion-activated lasers lined the hallway ahead, their faint red beams crisscrossing like a deadly web. Akihiko paused, calculating his next move. With a deep breath, he adjusted his footing and began weaving through the lasers.

"Lasers bypassed," he reported. "Approaching the target zone."

Kana's voice cut in, this time more urgent. "Akihiko, I have eyes on Maxime. He's in the central hall, flanked by two bodyguards. He's addressing the crowd... seems to be rallying them for an operation."

Akihiko's jaw tightened. This was it. He moved swiftly but silently, ascending a servant's staircase that led directly to the balcony overlooking the central hall. As he reached the top, the unmistakable voice of Maxime Gorm filled the air.

"We stand on the brink of a new era," Gorm declared, his tone commanding. He was a towering man, his presence exuding authority and menace. His black hair was slicked back, his sharp features illuminated by the chandelier above. "The Assassins have clung to their ideals for too long, impeding progress and innovation. But tonight, we strike a blow that will shatter their foundations."

Akihiko's fists clenched as he observed from the shadows. This was the man who had massacred Kyushu, who had betrayed the Brotherhood and left a trail of blood in his wake. His fingers itched to strike, but he knew he needed to bide his time.

Damn... He broke one of the Order's rules and he acts like there's no danger to him? Something's weird. Especially in gatherings like this, they should expect an ambush if they take into account the previous assault.

"Ryo, Kana, Haru," Akihiko whispered, his voice low and resolute. "I'm in position. On my mark, we move."

But before he could give the signal, Maxime Gorm's piercing gaze swept upward, locking directly onto Akihiko's hiding spot. A sinister smile spread across his face as he gestured to the guards below.

"Ah," Gorm said, his voice dripping with mockery. "It seems we have an uninvited guest."

Akihiko felt his heart grow heavy. Shit... this must be a trap, he must have guessed. How was he spotted so easily? His stealth skills aren't something that's easy to unmask. Does this guy also have a "sixth sense"?

"Not good...." Akihiko's blood ran cold. The mission had just taken a dangerous turn.

"Akihiko, what's happening?!" Kana's voice hissed through the communicator.

"Plan B's in motion. It's a trap. Get ready to move," Akihiko responded sharply, his gaze fixed on Maxime.

Gorm, still standing amidst the chaos, raised his voice over the commotion. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems our entertainment for the evening already wants to leave. Lock down the mansion. I want him alive."

Akihiko cursed under his breath. He had to act quickly. "Haru, find an exit route. Ryo, Kana, cover me. We end this here."

Gunfire erupted as the guards below opened fire on his position. Akihiko leapt from the balcony, twisting mid-air to evade the hail of bullets. He landed gracefully, rolling to absorb the impact, and immediately dashed toward the nearest cover.

Akihiko didn't have any firearms on him, firstly it would just make too much noise and secondly, the Templars' technology is far advanced, simple bullets can't even go through their vests. However, the blades produced by the Assassins are lethal.

"On your six, Akihiko!" Ryo's voice crackled through the communicator.

A guard charged from behind, but Akihiko was ready. He spun, parrying the rifle's barrel with a flash of his hidden blade. With a swift motion, he disarmed the attacker and delivered a precise strike to the guard's throat.

Kana's voice came next, calm but urgent. "Sniper in position. Taking out high-priority targets."

A shot rang out, and one of Gorm's bodyguards collapsed. Akihiko didn't waste a second. Using the confusion, he darted toward Maxime, dodging bullets with a combination of agility and calculated movements. A graze on his shoulder burned, but he pushed through the pain, his focus unshaken.

Maxime stood his ground, an amused smirk on his face. "Impressive. But do you really think you can take me down here, Assassins' dog ? You're outnumbered and outgunned."

Without answering, Akihiko's blade gleamed under the chandelier's light as he closed the distance.

Their clash was intense. Maxime wasn't just a figurehead; he moved with a ferocity and precision that hinted at extensive combat training. His punches were heavy, calculated, and dangerous. Akihiko countered with his speed, delivering strikes that were swift and surgical, aimed to kill.

Meanwhile, Kana and Ryo provided covering fire from their respective positions. Haru's voice cut through the chaos. "Akihiko, the south gate's compromised. They're closing in on all exits!"

"Then make a new one!" Akihiko snapped, narrowly avoiding a vicious kick from Maxime. He retaliated with a sweeping slash of his blade, forcing Maxime to retreat.

As the fight raged on, the mansion shook with explosions, Kana's handiwork, clearing escape routes and sowing confusion among the guards.

Suddenly, Maxime pulled back, raising a hand. "Enough!"

The guards ceased fire, and an uneasy silence fell over the room. Maxime's voice dripped with confidence. "You've made your point, Assassin. But you should've known... you're not the only one with allies."

A door burst open, and a squad of heavily armed mercenaries poured into the room. They moved with deadly precision, their advanced weaponry trained on Akihiko.

"Akihiko, we're out of time!" Ryo's voice was frantic now.

"Fall back. Regroup at the extraction point," Akihiko ordered, his tone steely.

Kana hesitated, pressing her lips tightly together. "What about you?"

"I'll hold them off. Go."

With that, Akihiko unleashed a smoke bomb, blanketing the room in a thick, choking fog. The mercenaries opened fire blindly, but Akihiko was already moving, his form was just a silhouette in the smoke.

As he fought his way through the onslaught, Maxime's laughter echoed behind him. "Run all you like, Assassin. This isn't over."

Akihiko bursted through a shattered window into the cold night air. His breath comes in ragged gasps, his body battered but unbroken. In the distance, he sees the faint glow of Kana's sniper rifle, signaling the team's location. But as he takes a step toward them, a chilling voice cuts through his communicator.

"You didn't think I'd let you leave so easily, did you?"

Akihiko freezes, his blood running cold as the unmistakable sound of a helicopter's rotor blades fills the air.