The Rescue Blueprint

After finishing their tea in the café, Rosseaulyn and Vermilion returned to their military vehicle. As Rosseaulyn drove along the road, leaving the slum area behind, Ayukawa suddenly materialized in the middle of the road, forcing them to come to a screeching halt. Fortunately, Rosseaulyn reacted quickly, and no one was harmed.

"Ayukawa!" Vermilion exclaimed.

"Does she have any concept of danger in this world?" Rosseaulyn muttered.

Ayukawa approached the driver's window, rapping on it lightly. Rosseaulyn lowered the window.

"Ms. Ayukawa, that was a close call. Is there something I can help you with?" 

"I believe Vermilion has decided to go with you. Can you count me in as well?" Ayukawa requested.

"I can't fully trust you yet. You've killed many soldiers before."

"Not this time. I won't harm any of your people."

"Why do you want to join us in the first place? I don't see how this concerns you."

"I just think I might have a chance to cross paths with Lieutenant Dialla, and I want to take his life."

"There's a slim chance he might be there, but your reason isn't convincing…" 

"Rosseaulyn, please let her join us…" Vermilion pleaded.

"Fine… just get in."

"Good decision."

"Ayukawa, does Carmella know about this?"

"I don't know, but I assume she does."

"I think she'll be upset that we left her alone. Wait a minute, where's the kitten?"

"I saw her return to our house by herself when I left."

"A clever kitten…"

"Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Ayukawa, but please stick to my lead and don't venture into other areas once we're inside the headquarters. Remember, you're both outsiders."

"It's ironic, a Lieutenant with thousands of soldiers under her command requesting help from outsiders." Ayukawa remarked sarcastically.

"This isn't a military operation. I can't force my men to participate if they don't want to. It's more of a personal issue. If they're unwilling to help, then it's more suitable to let outsiders join this mission. Otherwise, it could spark a civil war among the soldiers."

"Why don't you just admit that your men aren't competent enough for this mission? Are you trying to protect their honor even though they've abandoned you?"

"You have a point. But I'm not alone, and they can provide support for this mission. Don't forget, our enemy is our own military. After some consideration, I believe outsiders are better suited for this operation."

"Using outsiders as pawns. What's the difference between you and Dialla?" Ayukawa retorted.

Vermilion quietly observed the growing tension in the vehicle, feeling uneasy about the escalating conflict.

"Why don't you interpret it differently? This could be a lesson for him, showing how dangerous it is to rely on outsiders."

"So, you want me to cause chaos in our target location and demonstrate the terror of an outsider?"

"Alright, enough with the sarcasm. I know you've been trying to convey one message throughout this conversation— that all soldiers are worthless and scoundrels, correct?"

"Exactly! You've found the essence of my words. You are indeed sharp, which sets you apart from the rest."

"Is that a compliment, or are you still being sarcastic?"

"Take it as you wish; it doesn't matter what I intended."

"Ms. Ayukawa, you are quite the character. Ms. Yeleona, why have you been so quiet? Are you nervous?"

"Yes, a little..."

"You should be nervous because, truthfully, I'm more nervous than you right now."

"Really?"

"Oh, I'm skilled at concealing my emotions and wearing a mask on my face."

"But I'm pretty sure you can't hide your height."

"Bingo! My towering 193 cm height has caused me trouble. If there's an earthquake and a building collapse, I'll be the first to go."

"Then why are you still wearing high heels?"

"Just because I like them."

"Wait a minute! Are you wearing high heels while driving?"

"Yes, is that a problem? I do it every day."

"I'm at a loss for words…"

"Don't worry, I'm confident in my driving skills. Check the rearview mirror of your friend sitting calmly behind us."

"Alright…"

"We're almost there. Both of you, duck down and hide for a moment."

After a short drive, they arrived at the headquarters. Security recognized Rosseaulyn's vehicle and waved them through without hesitation. She parked in her designated spot and led them through a secret back entrance, accessible only to high-ranking officers.

"This is a secret 'passage' in the building, known only to high-ranking officers who possess a special all-access passcode. Ironically, not all officers, not even my predecessors, are aware of this entrance."

"Impressive building... How did you discover this entrance?" Vermilion inquired.

"I stumbled upon it myself."

"You have a knack for finding hidden treasures..."

"Perhaps you're right. Take a right to the staircase and..."

"Alright," Vermilion promptly turned right toward the staircase, interrupting Rosseaulyn.

"Ms. Yeleona, I just wanted to mention that the staircase is on the right, but we'll be taking the elevator on the left..."

"Oh, my... so embarrassing…" Vermilion sheepishly headed to the elevator.

'She's such an interesting and amusing girl. Now I understand why Carmella is so fond of her' Rosseaulyn thought with a smile.

"So, this is how a 'mighty' Kothern military headquarters base looks like..." Ayukawa examined every inch of the building with her sharp eyes.

"Ayukawa, are you searching for something specific?"

"Yes, I'm on the hunt for my prey..."

"Please, don't! We're not here for..."

"Oh, come on! I'm just messing with you, you silly girl!"

"Your facial expression always looks so fierce... How am I supposed to tell if you're joking or serious?"

"Not this time; I didn't bring any knives with me."

"Phew, that's a relief..."

"Ladies, here's the elevator. Please step inside; it'll take us directly to my office floor."

They boarded the elevator, which whisked them away to Rosseaulyn's office. Three of her subordinates were waiting outside, staring at Vermilion with evident curiosity and disbelief.

"Ma'am, is this the innocent-looking girl you mentioned who can help us?!" one of the soldiers asked in astonishment.

"Yes, please don't judge a book by its cover."

"Unbelievable..."

"Hello, nice to meet you!" The soldiers greeted.

"Hello…" Vermilion greeted them.

"What about the lady over there... She keeps giving us a stern look..."

"Please leave her alone. As I said, just trust me and the two ladies here. Have you guys found the escort vehicle I requested?"

"Yes! We've even changed its appearance, and we can guarantee that nobody will recognize it as our military vehicle!"

"That's excellent! Ladies, please come inside, and we'll have a discussion. The three of you, please give us a few minutes and wait here."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Once inside her office, Rosseaulyn quickly showed them a detailed map of the west military campsite. She handed over two photographs of Captain Raynolds's wife and daughter, each with personal details written on the back.

"Take a good look at these two photos. They're Captain Raynolds's wife and daughter, and our sole mission is to locate and rescue them. You'll be tasked with finding them, and once you do, provide me with their location, and I'll handle the rescue."

"Alright, I'll keep these in mind."

"Great. Now, please examine this complex map of the west military camp situated beside the river. Don't worry; you don't have to fully understand it. Just remember these two paths."

"Which two?" Vermilion asked, puzzled, while looking at the intricate map.

"These two paths marked in red. They are the shortest routes to cover the potential locations where Dialla might have kept them."

"What if I can't find them at all?"

"In that case, retreat immediately, and I'll further investigate. There's no guarantee they are there, but the likelihood is relatively high."

"Am I going into the campsite by myself?" Vermilion asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

"Yes, that's right. Your power is crucial for this operation. I'm not forcing you; if you have second thoughts, I can send you home. Take your time to think about it," Rosseaulyn replied, emphasizing Vermilion's freedom to choose.

"No, it's fine. Since I'm already here, I'll do it!" Vermilion affirmed, though her fear was still apparent.

"Wait a moment! Don't forget about me; I can go with her!" Ayukawa chimed in.

"Ah, that's right. But are you good at remaining concealed?"

"I can manage, at least I can keep an eye on her instead of letting her go in alone."

"But what if she uses her power and disappears from your sight? How will you follow her?"

"I see… Vermilion, does your power only work on yourself? Is there another way I can go with you?" 

"I'm not sure... What if I give it a try right now?"

"Alright, but what should I do?"

"Let me try..." Vermilion began using her power and attempted to bring Ayukawa into her parallel space. They walked together and stayed close, but their attempts were initially unsuccessful. After several failed attempts, Vermilion contemplated giving up.

"Huff... Huff... This is tiring," Vermilion gasped.

"Hmm... It seems impossible... I only saw you disappear while Ms. Ayukawa stayed here the whole time."

"Vermilion, forget about it. Don't waste your energy," Ayukawa advised while placing her hand on Vermilion's shoulder.

"No, it's okay... Huff... One more time..."

"Eh?! They both disappeared! Finally, it worked!" Rosseaulyn exclaimed.

"Phew... Did it work?" 

"Yes! Both of you disappeared right in front of me!"

"Really? Ayukawa, you can come with me now!"

"Wait! How does it work?! Why were you suddenly able to do it? I didn't even notice it; I still saw Rosseaulyn standing in front of me!"

"But you can still see me, right? That's how my power works. I guess it's because you touched my shoulder, so you were able to enter with me."

"I see. If I can still see you when you use your power, it means I'm inside your space. But what if I remove my hand while you're still in your space?"

"I'm not sure... Let's figure it out now."

"Alright, I'll place my hand on your shoulder again... Go ahead!"

"Let's go!"

"Oh! Obviously, you can't remove your hand, Ms. Ayukawa. Both of you disappeared, and then you suddenly appeared again, but Ms. Yeleona still wasn't visible."

"You're right. At least we now have an understanding of the 'concept' of her power."

"Phew... Let me catch my breath!" Vermilion returned from her parallel space.

"So, I'll go with her, and I'll also be able to protect her. If anything happens to her, Carmella will never forgive you!" Ayukawa stated firmly.

"Of course, even if you get spotted, they won't know who you are. But please, avoid causing any casualties. To the best of my knowledge, not all, but most of the soldiers in the campsite are Dialla's men."

"I'll control my temper, and I'll only use my knife if I see that scoundrel's face."

"Well then, any more questions?"

"No... I think we're good."

"Hey, before we go, can I borrow a military combat knife? Also, I think you should give a weapon to Vermilion, just in case."

"Absolutely, you can take mine. Make sure to return it once we're done."

"Hmm... Let me try this... Not bad," Ayukawa said, testing the knife.

"Hmm... So heavy! This is my first time holding a gun... Am I really going to take this dangerous thing with me?!" Vermilion remarked, examining the pistol.

"It's for your own safety! If there are no more questions, let's move out now!"

"Alright!"