Chapter 113 - Grand Exhibition (1)

<---Chapter 112 - Preparations  | Table of Contents | Chapter 114 - Grand Exhibiton (2)  --->
A booming crescendo of fireworks, confetti, and music blasted through the air, showering the attendees of the Grand Exhibition in dazzling colors and displays under the clear blue sky. The streets of Tenar were filled with joy, school children running up to the entrance with anticipation, and Versians from all over the nation gathering in one single spot to partake in the festivities.

The entire main street leading up to the central square beneath the statue of President Johan had been cordoned off, its sidewalks now repurposed to feature pop-up stalls and carts of all kinds, selling mysterious candy, sweets, and delicacies from far beyond. Sellers and performers alike called out to the bustling crowd, attracting attention to their acts and wares.

"Rock candy, salted straight from the Mines of Tryas! Even the Emperor couldn't help letting everyone try it out!"

"The dazzling Miss Shark hailing from the Fifth Island of Proco - half lady, half shark, all violence!"

"Behold, the three-horned ram of Ulut! Its dazzling rainbow wool puts other animals to shame, able to fan it out to attract other males through perilous dances on the tip tops of the mountain ranges! It is famed for its tenacity through harsh weather conditions, as well as an uncanny ability to mimic human words when you say his name!" A circus performer regaled his audience with colorful descriptions of the various oddities from around Versia held behind cages., prompting a kid to walk up and participate. "Go on, say his name!"

"Uhm..." The kid looked around confusedly, the apple candy already melting in his hand, about to drip onto his checkered sleeves. "I don't know his name."

"It's right here, on his collar." The performer pointed out a tag on the Ulut ram, who was cheerfully gnawing away on a trough of blue leaves, its eyes staring blankly ahead at the audience gathered around.

"Oh! Oink Oink!" The kid laughed. "That's a funny name."

"Oink yourself, dumb twat." The ram blurted out in the tone of a gnarly farmer with a sneer on its face, belaying its intelligence, before its expression returned to a vacant look just as before. The crowd rolled in laughter, the kid still stunned by the sudden outburst before he began to sniffle, running back to his parents.

Elsewhere on the streets, merchants tried to show off mysterious wares with tall properties while explorer groups laid out relics discovered from the depths of Versia, some even showing off their amazing abilities to an amazed crowd. "This relic right here is the pinnacle of our haul in our decades of ruin-diving. Behold an object so magnificent and dazzling that when one peers into it, it's as though you can see the stars beyond the veil, beyond this mundane reality! Give it a shot yourself, free of charge!" One old explorer waggled a tube-like object with a lens attached to it. "Do be careful - whatever you look at might feel a little tingle of sorts."

Some of the more adventurous men stepped up, grabbing the tube from the old explorer and looking around, their jaws dropping in its amazement. "My goodness... this... this is like peering through walls! I can see beyond!" The first user exclaimed with shock, aiming the tube at the crowd. "I can see so much... it's like a brand new world!" The lens of the tube aimed right at a few of the ladies in the crowd, all of whom could suddenly feel an unknown heat erupting all over their skin, as if they were being irradiated by an unknown source stemming from men who were clearly grinning from ear to ear.

Festival games, singing, dancing, and performances all distracted each and every attendee, and the entrance to the Grand Exhibition was completely free of charge. All Versians of any age and origin could attend, with a significant crowd already gathering in the central square, enjoying the various amenities and delicacies around. Beyond the central square laid the steps that led up to a repurposed justice court, once used for trialing errant nobles after the war, now converted by the government into a museum and subsequently used for the Grand Exhibition as a banquet hall.

Inside the banquet hall, whose doors were still closed, servants and waiters alike scrambled around frantically, preparing tables and chairs and decorating pillars to welcome the approaching dignitaries. The colors of Versia and its coat of arms were displayed prominently, and the banners and other flags propped up along the ceiling and walls made it look grand. Coupled with the intricately brilliant marble tiles and the opulent revolutionary paintings by former revolutionaries spanning the entire ceiling of the converted justice court, it gave a sense of awe and inspiration to any within it.

However, the waiters did not have time to soak in the atmosphere, rushing to and fro to setup the cutlery and silverware for each of the tables, placing placards on some of the circular dining tables situated near a stage which used to be the judge's seat. Tens of dozens of cutlery sets were arranged methodically and precisely, a few managers walking through and fixing any mistakes the waiters made.

"Don't any of you dare to drop your damn fucking drinks! I swear to the Goddess, if you stain ANYONE's suit or dress, I will have you quartered the next day in this very same place and make you clean up your own guts! Are we clear?!" The banquet hall's manager roared, the waiters nodding back in unison. "Good. Get into position!"

The waiters filtered out to various corners of the halls, standing next to tables and pillars while an honor guard formed at the entrance of the banquet hall, their uniforms decorative in nature, presenting the colors of the revolutionary guard. They all stood still, listening to the din of the crowd and the cheers of the people beyond the closed doors.

Amidst the waiters who stood at attention, one of them was Kyle himself, having disguised his facial features thanks to Haui's makeup. This time, he did not use the warts or acne one, instead using a lighter one that gave him freckles, as well as making his chin slightly more dirty in nature, just enough to throw anyone who would recognize him off, his hairstyle also changing drastically. His eyes glanced around the hall, mapping the area out while his eyes caught the gaze of a few stationed Nest guards scattered around the hall.There's a hundred waiters here, not to mention Nest guards. Let's not try anything funny here.

[Announcing the arrival of Acting President Mornero!] A muffled announcer voice spoke from outside, drowned out by the cheers of the countless Versians gathered along the road and the entrance of the banquet hall to see him. Soon, Kyle saw him enter the banquet hall, the honor guard at full attention and saluting him with honor.

It was Kyle's first time actually seeing Mornero in the flesh. He donned a proper black suit, a neat little pin with the flag of Versia attached to his suit's pocket, along with a well-folded blue handkerchief tucked in nicely. Though Morneo himself wasn't very tall, he had a somewhat familiar gait in the way he walked, giving Kyle an uncanny feeling as though he had met him somewhere else before. Most noticeably, his nose gave Kyle a strong sense of deja vu, though Kyle was struggling to find a connection to anything that had happened to him before. Something isn't right. I shouldn't have seen this man before. Why does it feel like I've worked with him before? Is he from my former life?

While Kyle ran through all the possible ex-employees in his former life's criminal group, he could not figure out anyone who looked like him. When Mornero's gaze swept the banquet hall, Kyle pointedly averted his eyes, acting like he was focusing on the ceiling, the painting depicting the tumultuous final battle of the revolutionaries taking over the parliament, led by President Johan himself. If Kyle squinted his eyes, he could just barely make out the painted visage of Dekar, his expression locked in a battle cry leading the troops.

Mornero did not leave the banquet hall yet, standing right near the honor guards and preparing to welcome the incoming foreign and local dignitaries himself. Sure enough, one by one, diplomats and representatives from all over the world began to stream in by the dozens, the Grand Exhibition having attracted a lot of attention. Kyle watched as even a city mayor from Creuliz received a personal handshake from Mornero himself. Interesting. They know how to sell themselves to the people.

"Hey, what the fuck are you waiting for? You got to start serving drinks!" A manager smacked Kyle in the back, almost prompting Kyle to turn around and twist the manager's head off. However, he relented, swallowing his pride and moving off without a word, perfectly balancing a tray of champagne glasses in one hand and moving through the banquet hall floor.

Soon, the banquet hall was filled up with nearly five hundred guests. Kyle tracked as many faces as he could, but he could not immediately tell who they were and where they were from. He had their faces recognized bit by bit, knowing that there would come a time when he would need to use them. From the corner of his eye, he silently tracked Mornero and who he talked to, all the while expertly handing glasses and sweets to nearby guests. Each move Kyle took was measured, slowly allowing him to get closer and closer to Mornero.

As Kyle approached, he suddenly noticed a gaze locked onto him from a bodyguard near Mornero. It took three minutes of him playing it cool until the bodyguard finally relented, looking elsewhere. He took the opportunity to glance at the bodyguard once more. Unlike the rest of the Nest guards clearly angling around the president, this one was clad in a full armor suit that left no obvious gaps, the surface a smooth metallic black that gave an eerie sense of speed despite its apparent weight. On the center of his chest plate was the emblem of Nest engraved prominently, while arctech engravings dominated the rest of the armor, the grooves and edges sleek and dangerous.

"Are we sure there won't be any Ghosts attacking today?" Mornero murmured to that bodyguard during a lull between dignitaries' arrival, Kyle's keen hearing able to pick it up even though he was not looking directly at them.

"No, sir, not to our knowledge. Our men have everything under control." The bodyguard replied in a hushed tone, earning a scoff from a lady nearby, irking him slightly. "Do you have something to say, General Verian?"

"Nothing." The lady arranged medals of honor on her military uniform, which were countless awards for her acts of valor in the independence war fifteen years ago. Her face bore multiple scars, her gaze unafraid of anyone, not even Acting President Mornero himself. "I just wonder whether Nest is losing its touch. Didn't you just get another sweatshop attacked?"

"We are not having this discussion here." Mornero intervened immediately, cutting the conversation short. "I will not have you two bickering - reputation is at stake here. Nox, secure the VIP room once more. General Verian, be nice to our guests. No fighting."

"Yes, sir." Kyle peeked from the peripheral of his vision, tracking the bodyguard Nox, who moved towards a luxurious door embedded in the wall, clearly meant for more important visitors. [Sasha, anything happening?]

[Nothing I see yet, sir. No sign of Harrison.]

[Do you have a clear line of sight to the VIP room?]

[Affirmative. I can see all the chairs.] Sasha tweaked the scope of the railgun, perched precariously on the rooftop of an adjacent building nearly three blocks away, her vantage point allowing her a good view of the situation.

[The moment you catch a glimpse of his convoy, I need to know immediately. ] Kyle ended the conversation, focusing his efforts on preparing to infiltrate the VIP room. He knew it would be where he would ascertain the most information, as well as allow him to eavesdrop on Harrison. Just as he was checking out the security that was guarding the VIP's door entrance, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.

"Could I have that drink you're carrying?" A familiar voice caused Kyle to jolt in shock, a first since he had ever arrived at Raktor. Instead of turning around fully, he only plucked the glass of wine from the tray he carried, handing it to the person behind him while averting his gaze. What the fuck is he doing here?! Wasn't he supposed to be in Kregol?

"Hey, Sebastian! You got to try this bread, its wicked. It's blue and everything!" A loud booming voice cheerfully called towards the man behind Kyle, Kyle realizing that both Sebastian and Ares Ulras were attending the Grand Exhibition too. Kyle soon noticed other major gang leaders also attending, all of whom he recognized - he had to if he wanted to know who to avoid or work with. Bolsh Legion, Veiled Angels, Violet Demons, Tul'e Da'li - everyone is here. While Kyle felt slightly irked that his Seven Snakes gang was not invited, it was clear that only major gang leaders were invited.

Most of the other delegates kept a clear distance away from the unruly bunch, though Sebastian squinted his eyes in suspicion at Kyle, wondering why the waiter was trying so hard to look away. "You seem familiar... have we met before?" Sebastian queried.

Kyle put on his best alternate accent voice, mimicking a young, frightened boy. "Sorry, sir, I don't know. I'll have to leave now." He hurried away, acting like he had to refill the tray with drinks while Sebastian stared at his back.

[Sasha, you didn't tell me that the major gangs were here too!]

[Sorry, sir, I was focused only on looking out for Harrison.]

Kyle let out a deep breath, this time making sure to avoid getting close to the major gang leaders in any way. Despite their clearly delineated territories back at Raktor, surprisingly, they were all cordial and friendly with each other, Kyle noticing Sebastian and Ares chatting happily with the other leaders. Looks like they are working together - but to what end?

Sasha's frantic voice suddenly surged into his mind once more. [Sir, I see Harrison's convoy approaching now, but there's someone ahead of him.]

[Who?]

[Count Leon is here, with what seems like a prisoner wagon. I am not too sure.]

It must be the delayed handover of Versian prisoners. Kyle quickly used the distraction as the dignitaries and guests alike all turned their heads to watch the arrival of Count Leon at the steps of the banquet hall. He noticed Nox had already taken up position next to Mornero near the front, while two Nest guards watched over the door to the VIP room. Acting fast, he hurriedly grabbed a set of silverware from a nearby unoccupied table, rushing over with the tray in hand and looking flustered.

The two Nest guards immediately blocked his path, their rifles aimed at him. "Where the hell do you think you're going?!"

"Sorry, sirs, I was told by the manager to set up the cutlery!" Kyle explained with a jittery voice.

"Someone else already set up the table, it's done." The guard asserted, nudging Kyle back with the rifle.

"There's been a late addition to the guest list - Sir, please, if the manager finds out I didn't do my job..." Kyle pleaded, the guard sighing and finally relenting, opening the door for him to reveal a quaint little room, a dining table fit for just five people. However, the moment Kyle entered, he tripped over his own foot, collapsing onto the floor with the cutlery flying all over, the silverware clattering onto the neatly arranged table in a mess.

The sound caused a few guests to turn their heads, and the guard quickly closed the door to prevent anyone else from looking in. "Clean that fucking mess up, quick!" The guard whispered from outside, clearly agitated.

"Y-yes, sir!" Kyle grinned and got to work. He easily rearranged the table back to its original setup, not leaving any hints that it had been tampered with. Sliding his hand into his pockets, he retrieved a modified arctech radio, adhering it with horse glue to the bottom of the table. "Testing, one, two."

[Loud and clear, sir.]

[Try making a sound back.]

No sound came from the modified arctech radio, altered to only transmit sound that picked up, effectively working like a listening device that would allow Kyle to spy on the conversation. The radio would transmit to Sasha, who would then repeat the words into Kyle's brain via telepathy. "Good."

[Announcing the arrival of Count Leon as well as Mr. Harrison!] The same muffled announcer's voice prompted Kyle to clean up after himself. He quickly grabbed the tray and scampered out of the room, but not before apologizing vehemently to the two Nest guards, who felt a slight bit of pity for him. With his task done, Kyle was planning to leave the banquet hall and ditch his waiter uniform until he caught sight of both Count Leon and Harrison entering together, accompanied by Acting President Mornero.

Count Leon wore the same blue noble colors he had worn when he met Kyle, while Harrison had his own blonde hair combed backward neatly into a ponytail, and instead of wearing a suit, he wore an inventor's coat, his pockets filled to the brim with eccentricities and other oddities, even featuring a full toolset on a work belt. Kyle didn't recall Harrison looking like this in the advertisement; his outfit was far more elegant than in the marketing light-thrower images. Here, Harrison portrayed a more homely feel, as if he were just an engineer working for Versia.

Kyle felt something strange from the way the two were acting with one another, especially for two rival powers supposedly on the cusp of war. Count Leon abandoning his military exercise to attend this Grand Exhibition would naturally be seen as a de-escalation of tensions by the general public at large. What is going on? Kyle decided to stay for a bit longer, just to see if he could gleam any more information. Once he ditched his waiter role, it would be nearly impossible to re-enter once more.

[And now, I would like to invite Acting President Mornero to give a speech for the opening ceremony of the Grand Exhibition!] A cheerful lady hosted the stage of the banquet hall, and the guests politely applauded while Mornero adjusted his suit and walked up the stage with firm determination. He tapped the microphone behind a podium emblazoned with the emblem of Versia, the echo reverberated even outside where arctech speakers had been linked in sequence, allowing his voice to reach the whole of the Exhibition.

Thanks to the marketing and advertising by Harrison, almost every Versian around the state was listening in on their own radios, even those working in Raktor stopping their jobs to sneak a quick listen in. Back in the Seven Snakes, Keith and the rest of the vipers were also carefully listening in, knowing that this was an important event that would reveal some of the plans at hand.

"My fellow Versians. It has been fifteen years since we declared the independence of Versia. It brings me joy to be able to stand before all of you today to enjoy the fruits of what our forefathers and ancestors have fought tooth and nail for. Today, the day shines its light upon a brand new Versia, full of vitality and strength, ready to herald in a new age." Mornero spoke with dignity, his voice passionate.

"This Grand Exhibition serves as a candle in a dire time, even when we find ourselves besieged by the realities of life. In an era where men seek to dominate everything they see, Versians throughout the nation, far and near, can stand together in this single event and look at their fears in the eye and say: 'Not today.'"

"For today is a day of celebration, of dignity, of fortitude. Versia is a democratic republic, its government born by the people, for the people. Our revolution may have succeeded when we first toppled the nobility, but it is still not finished - our society is not yet perfect. There are problems still to solve, and those who seek our ruin lurk about, planning our demise. I am glad that today, only friends of Versia have gathered here to join us in this monumental event. We thank each and every one of our most esteemed guests for participating."

Friends of Versia? That's rich. Kyle glanced at Count Leon and Harrison, who did not seem to react in any way to Mornero's speech.

"Each and every Versian has worked hard to bring to fruition this Grand Exhibition, a showcase of the ingenuity and talent that our precious people have to offer. Today, you will witness the grandeur and might of everything the people have in their hands! Versia, forward!" Mornero clenched his fist, shooting it out.

"VERSIA, FORWARD!" The citizens of Tenar chanted back before breaking out into a raucous applause that seemed to encompass the entirety of the city.

"Right now, I would like to invite Harrison, the sponsor of the Grand Exhibition, to say a few words." Mornero motioned to Harrison, who surprisingly did not take to the stage, but instead began to walk towards the entrance.

Ushers and guards began to have the guests walk out of the banquet hall onto its grand steps, taking a spot along its length to face the large cheering crowd gathered in the central square beneath the towering statue of President Johan. Unconventionally, Harrison had a microphone handed to him, the wireless arctech radio carrying his voice to the speakers effortlessly as he descended the stairs, his arms waving frantically to the crowd which jostled back in response, the front row squashing against a string of Nest guards and barricades to try and touch Harrison.

"My fellow Versian comrades, esteemed guests." Harrison began, a wide smile on his face. "This Grand Exhibition is to show off what all Versians have achieved, inventions galore. However, what good would be an invention if it were not Grand? Surely it would not fit the name of the event! Yet today I promise that what you see next, will have your eyes widen beyond belief."

"For centuries, countless attempts by other inventors have tried and failed to reach the heavens. They said we would never be able to reach the same heights where wyverns and dragons rule." Harrison spoke with a low tone, a rumbling sound erupting in the air above that sounded like a charging train. The guests clearly looked around in panic at the source of the rumbling, and even Sebastian and Ares looked confusedly at the sky from which the sound was coming.

"Look, over there!" Someone in the crowd pointed towards the distance, where five tiny specks of black dots were growing quickly in their field of view. Many were rooted to the spots, while others excitedly bickered about what was happening.

"Behold! The first known controllable artificial flight, fully powered by arcia engravings alone!" Harrison did a bow in front of the guests, as the five specks of black dots expanded into large planes that swerved past in a blur. They zoomed away, splitting up from each other and leaving behind streaks of smoke while the deafening sound blanketed the crowd, the gusts rushing through. Kyle nearly dropped his tray in shock when he heard the familiar sound and saw the planes swoop by; the second time, he had been astonished.

[Sir, that's the tree drawing I saw! It's Project Aurtla!] Sasha exclaimed via telepathy.

"While other countries may have already achieved such flight through the use of relic ruins, this is the first native engineering design, fully replicable for mass production!" Harrison announced. "With this in our hand, the skies will be ruled by us, and allow us to dominate any enemy that we may encounter, even a swarm of wyverns if it came down to it!"

Already, the guests were all exclaiming in amazement, while the people were losing their minds over the second flyover as the planes once again zoomed past at a low altitude, threading the needle between buildings and leaving the attendees astonished all over the city. Kyle snapped himself out of his stupor, hurriedly finding a secluded exit to ditch his waiter uniform, revealing a simple civilian outfit beneath as he donned a peaked cap, melding into the crowd easily and heading straight for the designated location of Project Guryi.

Before he left, he glanced at the guests who were returning to the banquet hall, his sight locked on Count Leon. Despite the tremendous display and insinuation by Harrison of the firepower the planes could bring to bear, Count Leon looked happier than ever, as if the planes being introduced were a good thing. On the other side, reporters and journalists swarmed Harrison, trying to get his take on the newly unveiled invention even while he retreated back into the banquet hall. [Sasha, can you hear the VIP room?]

[It's still working, sir.]

[Good. I want to know every single word that is spoken.]

[On it.]

Kyle weaved and snuck his way past the now riled-up crowd, the enthusiasm and patriotism at an all-time high. With such an unveiling, it might be even harder to recruit potential rebels now. With air superiority now being a concern, it felt that the imminent war with Raktor was uncertain. Kyle felt that there was a real chance that Versia could easily win the battle in a first strike, assuming Count Leon had nothing to deal with the planes. Perhaps that smile is because he has a countermeasure. Point defense engravings?

[Harrison and Count Leon just entered the room.]

Kyle didn't react, so he focused on his task ahead. Project Guryi was to be on display in one of the nearby buildings, a converted warehouse that was now filled to the brim with visitors, already examining the various types of industrial machinery placed within glass boxes, preventing anyone from touching them. He filtered in easily, the security letting anyone through.

[Count Leon congratulated Harrison on the planes.]

[I want to hear the exact words.] Kyle glanced from side to side, noting down the clearly heightened level of security. More than three dozen Nest guards were scattered around the warehouse, covering each and every viewing angle. A metal walkway positioned far above allowed them to get a bird's eye view of the crowd at large, though none of them could spot Kyle in the middle of it all.

He acted nonchalant, as though he was extremely interested in an automatic sewing machine and reading its description placard. Instead, he was listening to Sasha's recitation of what was going on in the VIP room.

"Perfect display, indeed." Count Leon praised as he took his seat inside the VIP room, sitting across from Harrison and Mornero.

"Thank you kindly." Mornero nodded his head in acceptance. "Though, its clear that we should talk about pressing matters than simply exchanging pleasantries."

"Of course. As previously agreed with your former... Minister Dekar, all Versian prisoners from the Ilysian Punks shall be transferred to you. General Javel has been kept well and alive." Count Leon leaned back, more confident than ever.

[Sasha, do you have eyes on General Javel?]

[I do, he's still in the wagon. I can see him through the window grills.]

[Keep an eye on him.] Kyle spoke as he approached the end of the exhibition hall, setting his eyes on the exosuit mentioned. Even though the exosuit had been crafted by Harrison, Kyle could already tell that it was a near masterpiece from his experience as an arcia etcher and his work on the prototype exosuit arm. Each engraving on the luxurious exosuit was exquisite and elegant in nature, as though it was an exosuit befitting of a noble, the edges decorated with ornamental drawings that made it even more exotic.

Most of the visitors stared at it in wonder and amazement, thinking that it was just another arctech knight armor. However, Kyle could see that the exosuit's spine was the key lynchpin of the entire exosuit's activation and mobility, far different from how a normal arctech knight armor suit would have operated. He decided to wait before striking, watching carefully for the rotation of guards while still listening to the conversation.

"And you shall retreat your troops from the border of Versia?" Harrison pushed, clasping his hands together while resting his elbows on the table.

"Of course. As soon as you legally transfer everything south of the forest boundary to Raktor."

"That will have to take a while. We need a bit more time to consolidate our control on the nation." Harrison fiddled with a sliver fork, twirling it on the table. "But we can indeed sign a contract now, witnessed by a representative from Proco."

"Indeed we can. I never wanted war, merely a token trophy to show that I still have teeth to screw those nobles in Tryas. I suspect we may have a fruitful business partnership going into the future." Count Leon grinned with a satisfied expression. "Excuse me for a second, I have to use the washroom for a bit."

Contrary to the happy atmosphere in the VIP room where Harrison and Monero were sharing a toast while Count Leon was gone, Kyle's plans were in complete shambles, his mind struggling to come to terms with what Sasha had just relayed to him. [Are you absolutely sure?]

[Yes, sir. They are planning to sign a peace treaty. They are getting the Proco representative to come to the VIP room right now!]

Kyle's brain raced, calculating all the implications. If the peace treaty is signed, then everything I have done thus far will have gone to waste. The Aspis Weapons factory will be basically left to rot - I do not have a license to sell it anywhere else if the war does not happen. Furthermore, the Ghosts of Versia will be utterly crushed by Harrison and his men if there is no Count Leon to split his attention. There would be no chance in hell that I could steal control of the economy from under Harrison's nose without the war.

The consequences were dire, and everything hinged on this one moment. Without missing a beat, Kyle grabbed the holster of his Oriental Bloom, now modified with a basic arcia crystal embedded in it to enhance its power. [Sasha, blow up the prisoner wagon, and aim for Harrison, but do not kill him!]

With no hesitation, Sasha instantly swiveled the aim of the railgun to the prisoner wagon, pulling the trigger immediately. The projectile shot outwards with a boom, breaking the sound barrier with a rush of air trailing it. It slammed into the front arctech engine, before resulting in a brilliant ball of flame that immediately engulfed General Javel and the other Ilysian Punks in it, leaving them burning in arcia fire, turning them into husks.

Sasha then turned her attention to the VIP room, able to see Harrison's panicked face through the windows, prompting her to squeeze the trigger once more. The projectile smashed through the window, shattering the glass into a thousand shards while it rushed straight at Harrison. Before the projectile could reach him, a sudden dark blur had Nox accelerate in his heavy armor, his sleek metallic arm shield deflecting the projectile effortlessly and knocking it away, the projectile exploding harmlessly in the air and showering them in dust.

Nox locked eyes on Sasha in the far distance, quickly blurting into his radio. "Someone just tried to assassinate Harrison. Secure all escape routes now - we're under attack!"

<---Chapter 112 - Preparations  | Table of Contents | To Be Continued  --->