Archbishop

Aka District Airport

Amid the roar of engines, blazing light poured forth in dazzling brilliance as the huge aircraft floating in the air slowly descended.

The officer standing on the platform leaped over the railing. His body dropped from more than ten meters up, smashing into the ground, shattering the pavement tiles beneath his feet with a thunderous crash.

"Commander!"

Several uniformed mercenaries approached. The one in front lifted a coat and draped it over the officer's shoulders.

On the other side, a mercenary held a cut cigar to the officer's lips, while a third hurried over and lit it with a match.

The officer took a puff of the cigar, looked up at the descending aircraft, exhaled smoke, and spoke slowly. "Have you settled things with the investigation team?"

The howling wind swept the smoke away.

"Communications have been established. We showed them the authorization we got from United Industries and confirmed our identities, but..."

The mercenary who had handed the officer the cigar paused halfway through. "They seem rather dissatisfied that United Industries hired a Mercenary Group like ours."

"That's just how those old fossils from Aines are."

The officer sneered. "They consider themselves the Federation itself, still dreaming that the Federation firmly controls every city."

The distant aircraft was about to land, its retracted landing gear already extended.

"Come on. Let's meet these 'Federation representatives.'"

With a smoking cigar between his lips and a broad coat over his shoulders, the officer wore a faint smile as he followed the markings on the ground, walking step by step toward the aircraft as it gradually touched down.

Bang--

With a soft sound, the tightly sealed aircraft door flipped downward, unfolding into a silver-gray gangway that stretched to the ground.

The unmanned chock vehicles prepared on both sides drove over