S1192. April.
Outskirts of the Osborne Villa. Another two months passed by rather uneventfully for Naoto. Outside of his scouting range, something was stirring.
Deep into the forest beyond the villa were some plains that rested upon the Nortia Line of the Transcontinental Railroad that crisscrossed not only throughout Erebonia, but was already well underway to laying down lines in other countries, or it had already done so. This place is connected to the industrious city, Roer.
It was an auspicious night. The sun was beginning to set, painting the canopies in vermillion.
If one had a close look, many figures could be seen crouched behind individual trees beyond the forest that Naoto often runs through that was part of his Daily Quests. These figures all wore plated armor, hiding their faces away with helmets. The armor all had the same color. Thanks to the setting sun, it made them appear even more fierce than usual. This group of armored figures was similar to a troop of a military. Or perhaps closer to that of a squadron? There were quite a few. Tens even.
A couple of them even took it a step further, making themselves fully armored. Likely leaders of said squadron. Probably more than one too, where each one commanded ten or twenty at a time. Specialized orbal headgear presently rested on their heads, waiting for the opportune time. This allowed them to see ahead of them, even during the darkest night. That's right, these were night-vision goggles. Something one would come across in Naoto's previous life. Even technology like that exists here. These armored squads would use these when conducting a night raid.
Even though the sun was still setting, they acted like it was already nighttime, and were currently scanning their surroundings.
Beyond this forest sat a sole villa that rested on the outskirts of Trista. The Osborne Villa. Home to the active General of the Imperial Army's Fifth Armored Division.
General Osborne.
It was April 20th. Six days before the Hundred Days War.
Once the couple of armored scouts finished looking around, one of them raised their hand, and gave a signal, which revealed their palm. After that, they spoke out.
"All clear, Boss. There are a few guards patrolling the villa, but nothing that is out of the ordinary.", One scout said. Once that was spoken, heavy footsteps could be heard. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was quite heavy, carrying a certain weight to each step.
Before long, it revealed a man who was rather large. He was more similar to that of a giant beast than he is a man. Additionally, he had a wild red mane for hair, and a huge war axe casually being carried on his back. Like, this axe was huge, and very, very powerful. On top of that, the beast-like man was quite tall, well over six-and-a-half feet.
Those heavy footsteps weren't the only thing to reach the armored figures' ears. A smaller echo but still somewhat heavy followed suit. A bulky fellow with imposing muscles. Not as wild as the taller man, but still contained a thirst for battle. Despite having such an appearance, he was more of a child than a man. But he was a child who lived on the battlefield, courtesy of the man beside him. He experienced rapid growth unlike a normal person. The boy had no life in his eyes, and he remained silent.
Similar to the man's war axe, a jagged sword, reminiscent of that of a chainsaw, could be seen on his back. Later on, he would switch to a stun halberd. The boy remained silent, still displaying his dead eyes as the man spoke to the scouts.
"Good. Is the package secured?"
"Not yet, Boss. There appears to be signs of battle, the one that made the news recently. Mostly trees and shrubs. No one has passed through the forest in a while. There is a single villa. We can go in deeper to confirm the package."
"A villa, eh? Looks like we were right on the Mira. Continue the pace we are doing now. No one is to strike until nightfall. And do not engage until the package's position is confirmed first.", The beast-like man said, who appeared to be the boss of this large armored group.
Apart from the boy, they all responded in unison, and exclaimed a single word.
""JA!""
Once they all spoke that, the boss gave a wild grin, and let out a laugh. Following that, he looked toward the boy beside him while the scouts steadily paced themselves deeper into the forest. After pausing for a moment, he spoke.
"So Randolph, I had you come with me as part of your training. Are you certain you're up for this mission? It hasn't been long since you've joined the Red Constellation, but as long as you are under my employment, you will be tasked with work just like everyone else. We've received a hefty bounty this time around. Something about our package being the perfect vessel, or something. I couldn't give a rat's ass. They're paying good. Enough to fill our bellies for several months.", The boss said, looking down at the boy. The boy remained unresponsive.
"...", The boy said, who the man called Randolph. However, the boy couldn't even form any words before a shadowy figure approached them from the opposite direction, seemingly out of nowhere. This new arrival was a far cry from the man carrying the war axe. It was another man who presently wore fancy priest-like robes, and held onto a staff. He had pale blue hair, and displayed fierce-looking red eyes on his face, which were hidden by some glasses.
"Tch. We are on a tight schedule, I'll have you know. I can't have you squandering the benevolence I have graced you with, you hulking beast.", The man said, appearing annoyed as he appeared beside the boss. Those around them appeared alert, but didn't stray from their assigned posts. The boss simply laughed seeing this man arrive.
"Hahaha! It is true. Mira might as well be counted as Aidios's blessing. Those nobles sure got beat alright. There are some who straight up don't like the package, but you shut them all down. Now that I think about it, you haven't even revealed your name yet.", The boss said, laughing at the priest-like man beside him.
"Hmph. With a pea-sized brain like yours who knows nothing but fighting, saying my name has little significance. Temporary partners we may be, but we will be cooperating tonight. I guess it is only right to say who I am. Be grateful, for I am called the High Priest.", the man said, introducing himself as the High Priest. Well, he sure looked the part. Staff in hand and all.
"High Priest, is it? We kind of have a reputation around these parts, being one of the strongest Jaeger corps on the western half of the continent and all. I'm currently leading these guys at the behest of our leader. I'm the sub-leader, so to say. Sigmund Orlando. Not many other corps can match our raw strength, haha!", The beast-like man said, introducing himself as Sigmund Orlando. The very same man who met another Jaeger back in the capital when Naoto visited it for the crowning of Emperor Eugent.
Sigmund Orlando, sub-leader of the Red Constellation, and an SS-Level Threat. Perhaps even an SSS-Level Threat. Not many can meet his match. The High Priest snorted out of annoyance hearing that.
"I could care less who you are. You are simply the best method for providing the best results to me on this particular occasion. Nothing more, nothing less. Your success rate is through the roof of your portfolio. You get what I want, and you get what you want.", The High Priest responded, revealing a rare smile of his own.
"And might I add, you must secure this package with absolutely zero injury caused on their person. The vessel must be perfect in every way, so my experiment can achieve the desired outcome. What I have planned here is only partial to what will happen tonight. This will be a good chance to deliver a good blow to the Erebonian Empire.", The High Priest continued, before declaring one final message. His eyes turned cold as he did.
"Leave no one alive."
Sigmund grinned widely after hearing that.
"You heard him, boys! Secure the package. No one is to be left alive tonight.", Sigmund declared to his Jaegers.
""Ja!"", The Jaegers exclaimed in unison once again.
And yet, despite becoming excited for the mission they will soon be partaking in, the Jaegers saw one of the scouts quickly coming back in a hurry, which drew Sigmund's attention.
"B-Boss, I don't know how, but w-we've been spotted!", The scout exclaimed, still in shock. Hearing that, Sigmund's gaze turned serious.
"Just how in the world...? Did our cover get blown?", Sigmund uttered, only to quickly shake that thought away. "There's still several hundred arge distances out from the villa. It looks like we'll be in for a real treat tonight."
"I never did say this was going to be easy. I doubt you even read the file I submitted to your corp.", The High Priest retorted, shaking his head in disappointment.
"It might be best for you to see it for yourself, Boss...", The scout said, and proceeded to take his headgear off. Sigmund grabbed it immediately, and placed it on his own head.
Sigmund then arrived near the closest tree to take cover, and started scanning toward the other end of the forest. They were far from the other side, and he spotted a villa on the outskirts with a few floors. It stood tall, and imposing. He continued scanning, and narrowed his search.
Before long, Sigmund's gaze fell upon a sole room on one of the upper floors with its windows open. He couldn't help but feel a cold sweat run down his back. He saw a golden-eyed boy staring straight out the window, acting as if he was looking right at Sigmund. The boy even cracked a smile.
"Shit.", Sigmund cursed, seeing the result clear as day. His eyes moved a bit, only to see the boy holding up a sign with some words written on it.
[Is it already time to come out and play hide-and-seek?]
Sigmund roared in anger, suddenly grabbing a hold of his headgear, and smashed it into the tree, causing the birds perched atop some branches to scatter away in fear.
Still, that burst of anger subsided rather quickly. It was replaced by that wild grin of his again. In fact, Sigmund even let out a loud laugh.
"Hahaha! Well ain't this interesting. This package of yours has quite the scary perception. We've been had, and the game hasn't even started.", Sigmund said, looking at the High Priest. He then shifted his gaze toward his Jaegers. "Change of plans boys. If it's a party the package wants, then it'll be a party he gets. We'll take the hunt to him. It's hunting time!"
As for Randolph who remained silent beside Sigmund, all he did was reach toward his back, and grasped onto his chainsaw-like sword. It wasn't exactly his Berserker weapon he uses in the games, but it was getting there. Inserting orbal energy into it, the sword started to rev up, and became alive. Shinggg!
Brandishing it, Randolph steadily walked into the forest on his own, seeing Sigmund's departing shadow who remained laughing in a crazed manner...
That's right. This event marked the start of the raid of the Osborne Villa.
The very same raid that will spur the rest of the Hundred Days War to begin!
Except only this time, there seemed to be something different taking place...