The next 3 hours of the plane ride are completely dead silent. Our pilot, 'Nulln,' tries to make conversation, however it falls upon deaf ears.
As they arrive in Italy, the plane slows above the mountains. Liam, already with a giant backpack, grabs Freya into a hug and jumps out of the hatch without hesitation.
Above them, Nulln leans from his window, waving as the wind howls around him.
"Good luck," he calls out, his voice almost swallowed by the roar of the engines.
Liam lands HARD, as the birds and the deer run away, crickets croaking in the distance.
Freya is blushing uncontrollably, they can hardly breathe. Liam puts them down as they fall to their knees, legs shaking.
Liam looks at the picture of his target closely as he flashes back in time, remembering the instructions clearly.
Defeat and humiliate the President's Elite Guard Rank 8.
Do not kill.
Do not permanently cripple.
But do destroy their body.
After what they did by going behind our backs and attacking us and our elite guards, this is our way of clapping back. Mr. N spoke through the radio.
Liam asked Mr. N, "Why in Italy though? Aren't all the President's Elite Guard in the US?"
Mr. N fully explains, stating Rank 8 Rufus is from Italy and is in control of all American International Affairs (AIA), he's more a politician than a fighter. However, do not underestimate his combat prowess, he is an elite guard for a reason.
Liam opens his eyes, back in the present, whispering, "Do not underestimate."
Siegfreed eats a snowcone as they complain. "I thought we would be in Venice? Or somewhere nice… not hiding out in the mountains—
"My brother in Christ… we are international criminals… you know that, right?" Liam whispers.
Siegfreed nods, thinking to himself, "Fair point."
As they set up tents a bit deeper in the forest, squirrels, lizards, rodents, parrots, and different types of animals naturally follow Siegfreed's every step.
"So how are we going to get our target? Isn't he some big named politician? Why would he ever be caught in these mountains—"
Liam whispers, "According to our information here, he often goes on personal hikes. This is one of the 3 mountains he hikes on at the end of every week."
Siegfreed feels sick. "So we have a 1 in 3 chance? If we get lucky, we get him the first week? If not, we could be waiting for months?" Siegfreed holds the parrot on his finger, giving it a bright smile, as it chirps at him, the rest of the animals follow suit, flying around and following him, as if they were bees finding honey.
Liam whispers again, "No, apparently he has a pattern, Mr. N says he will be hiking on this mountain tomorrow, 100%."
Siegfreed hisses his teeth, "How would he know?"
Liam gives his own input this time, "It seems as if Mr. N has been tracking his movements for over 3 months in an effort to ambush him."
Siegfreed says, "Wait, what? I thought this was revenge? Retaliation because of what the President did to Osprey and his forces?"
Liam whispers, "No, he just used that as an excuse. He was always going to get Rufus."
Siegfreed says, "Are you serious?"
Liam whispers carefully, "I mean it's obviously an assumption. However, don't mistake it, Sig, N is a monster."
He calls it justice, but it's only hunger dressed in purpose. Some monsters don't seek chaos, they seek permission to unleash it.
A day passes in no time, Siegfreed is asleep, cuddled up with a bear for warmth. Liam keeps watch, unable to sleep, the sun slowly rising.
He sits atop a tree, carving a small sculpture with his knife until
finally he sees movement, his entire demeanor shifts.
3 people, he recognizes all three from the pictures.
He can't believe it.
Mr. N was right. Right on the money.
Description: "A politician that has permanent bodyguards follow and protect him everywhere. These hikes are the only time he gets any alone time, and even then he's being guarded by his 2 lieutenants."
A part of Liam is disappointed, the air in Italy is nice. This trip wasn't so bad.
But now it is going to be over, and he'd be back in the US, all within a day.
However, "I will do what I must," he thought to himself.
Liam touches the ground silently with his fingers, drawing in a deep breath. Within eight hundred meters, a circle, he visualizes it in his mind.
"We're the only ones here."
The area is utterly secluded. His voice hardens.
"It's checkmate."
Liam hides behind a giant tree, waiting for them to walk past.
They walk slowly, we see a female with hybrid technological clothing and a giant bow on her back.
Her burgundy hair reminds him of someone he once knew. As his eyes lose focus, he switches his focus to someone else.
Alongside her, a massive human being, roughly 7'5. He is a giant. He carries a 6'0 tall and 6'0 wide shield on his arm. It seems to weigh a few tons. However, he carries it around casually.
However, the one with the most life force is in the middle of them both.
He is white, no… pale.
Purple-haired, with makeup on his face, specifically around the eyes, kind of like a mask.
That is him. It is Rufus.
Liam slowly reveals himself from the tree, looking directly at Rufus.
Calmly saying, "There is no one here to protect you. You are alone, it is over."
His voice is soft, his tone low, his whisper so silent, but it rings in their ears.