Mint City · North Gate
Bright lights illuminated the corridor stained with blood. The silent officer lit a cigarette, stepped through the wet Blood Pool, passed one corpse after another sprawled on the floor, and walked deeper into the corridor.
A squad of fully armed soldiers followed closely behind him. The thick stench of blood in the air brushed across everyone's cheeks.
Scattered gunfire, gradually fading away, could vaguely be heard ahead. It was getting closer, yet quieter.
When the officer rounded the final corner, a man with blood on his face came into view and saluted him.
"Commander, we have secured the City Gate Control Center, but some of the original guard troops are still putting up stubborn resistance and trying to retake it. We currently have them pinned down on the other side of the Control Center."
"Ovi has abandoned them. They won't be getting reinforcements."
The officer held the cigarette between his lips and glanced at the man before him. "Didn't you tell them?"
"Yes, Commander."
The man saluted and quickly replied, "But they are still resisting."
"Ovi always manages to find a few blockheads who refuse to see reason."
The officer did not slow down, striding toward the direction marked City Gate Control Center.
At that moment, the entire console area was under the control of fully armed soldiers. Beyond the console, on the other side of the Control Center, was a passage leading to a small door.
Several blood-soaked soldiers wearing City Defense Army uniforms were trying to charge through that passage, only to be forced back by the overwhelming firepower of the soldiers controlling the Control Center.
At the same time, the soldiers "guarding" the Control Center relied on riot shields and covering fire as they steadily pushed toward the passage to seal it