The Lost Men [Mission]

[Chris]

An hour have passed since Chris left the company of Kisuke and Yuroichi, the first being his client on the spot and the second being the objective of one of the mission he took. He’s now at the station where he’ll ride an airship which will fly to back Falcon City. Its one of the most common means of transportation around the western part of Fiore. Chris do a lot of travels so he can say that airships is one of the fastest but considering the time he stayed around here in the small village not far from the base of Mt. Three Head and that if he had just traveled on foot to the next village with a train station, he would have reached Falcon City by now. But it doesn’t matter anymore. Chris was fine with it as he happened to made the time he spent around the place doing work as a mage and as a mercenary. It will surely taken into account with him working as a Sable Pantera member.

“Excuse me, sir. May I know the nature of your travel? Weapons are extremely prohibited within airships. We advise you to…” a personnel of the station, not your nor old, approached slowly. Together with two security staffs, they approached Chris while he was sitting and waiting until its time to board. Surely, it can be observed that they were cautious to their approach and Chris noticed that. Without a word, Chris simply stood up and he did not moved at all. He simply stand. On the same time, it can be seen from that very stance, on his arm, he’s part of the Sable Pantera Guild. It made the man asking Chris to stop saying more words for a reason members of his guild only knows. It was like a pass to carry weapons and given that they are of a legal guild, they’re allowed to... in a way. “Sable Pantera, huh…”, the large security personnel said but Chris pay no more attention to them and sat back down. Its not only the three men who were looking at him but also the other passengers, too. Intimidated or scared, perhaps.

Within more than half hour of his stay, none were going near him nor sitting close up until a shadow leaped coming from his back. Chris may be not on his highest alertness but with the sloppy movements and loud steps, it can easily be heard by the likes of him. It was heading directly towards him though he can’t sense any particular intention aside from simply leaping forwards.

“Nnyaaaaaahhh!!!”, a familiar voice and a familiar mannerism in which Chris immediately noticed. It was Yuroichi after all and she’s drunk. Chris simply extended his arms with a straightforward and passive expression a she do so. He catches her instead of dodging and letting her hit the ground. “Is Kisuke with you?”, he asked but not long after, a tipsy but serious Kisuke tapped Chris shoulders in which surprised him. Chris did not felt Kisuke’s presence at all but there’s nothing to get alarmed.

“Chris… Chris… Chris… we met once again. I told you not to leave. But you did. And now that I’ve mentioned that we met again, the only means one thing… I need your service once more.”, Kisuke told Chris on a very serious tone and it appears that he’s not joking or just messing up.

There’s a serious aura around him and Chris can feel it. Add that to the aura of being drunk but joking aside, Chris felt that and he’s also being serious with it albeit the not so serious personality that he know about Kisuke at all. “What’s this about, huh?”, Chris casually responded back to Kisuke as he hand over Yuroichi to him. He just thought the two were messing around but halfway through, he really felt its another misfortune on Kisuke’s part and that they went for him for his service once more.

“Chris! Mercenary... I'll rely to you once more. This is not a personal favor. A professional one. Let me ask for another one. This be the third and last for the day… alright? The crew of the airship… find them. They’re missing. As for me, there’s someone needing my attention. Go!”, Kisuke asked Chris while giving off a very strong persona. Chris was like being given a command by his superiors and not a client. He did not have time to talk back as Kisuke’s been on a rush. Anyways, its clearly a new job for him before the day ends.

Spoiler:

[Chris]

Following Kisuke’s instruction, his client for the third time in a row within just a single day, Chris moved into action. Although Kisuke did not told any other information aside from the missing men he has to search for, both the crews and the captain himself, that they were missing with some of his assistants, too. But it seems it will be more complicated than what it seems to be since Kisuke specifically told Chris to keep off the radar for a reason not exactly specified but he know how to read between lines. Chris knew what Kisuke meant and just like what he initially thought, it won’t be that easy. He has to find the men who would operate the airship and for some reason, they disappeared. Though if simply using common sense, asking for assistance to those who are in charge within the grounds would be the first thing to do but as a mercenary, he’s hired alone; he’ll do it alone. Aside from that, Chris had already thought about as to why would Kisuke go directly for him. An even more complicated trouble perhaps. Either way, Kisuke told Chris he’s up to meet someone or it could be more simpler than that.

Chris heads towards lounges for possible lead but in case he found nothing, his first plan is to directly head towards the hangar anyways. The staff lounge is closer and he would pass by it so he checks it either way. Of course, Chris would be unauthorized to enter but with precautions, he sneaks inside. He’s not the one doing ninja type of moves, though. He’s more doing bold yet swift and careful actions. He slowly explore the place to only see no one aside from the security personnel patrolling around the hallway. There’s no one inside though there were several recently served coffees. The room is empty but not a dead end for his search.

Alone and trying to think, Chris slowly walk near the table where the drinks were served and then he put one of his hand on top of the cup of coffee as if he’d be able to tell how long has it been when the said drinks were said but actually, he’s just doing it to warm his detective skills. He’s not the type actually but rather a very direct physical one so he’s just pretending… not really. He thinks there’s someone watching from his back and he just acted as if he’s getting a drink. Not security nor surveillance camera. Not even a vengeful ghost. Chris just acted normal and as he look towards it by the reflection from the large window of the room, there’s none. A false alarm of his sharp senses. He decided to continue searching on a different place.

Spoiler:

[Chris]

Thinking of moving forward, Chris left the scene while still being cautious with his surrounding then proceeds to the fire exit in which may lead him to the field where he can go directly towards the hangars. That time it was already dark with only specific spots were light posts were open. It was easy for Chris to walk unnoticed even though there were some spotlights which were monitoring the grounds of the station. Chris did not took chances. He just know where, when or how to move on an open field and it was relatively easy. The harder part would be to get inside the hanger where there were more than five personnel patrolling. Chris did not think of taking them out. He plans to make his moves at minimum so he resort to circling around. He increased his sneaking pace and sprints to the back entrance of the hangar.

“Secure those men. I don’t want any loose ends. Keep your watch tight..!”
"Yes, sir! But there’s a bad news. The owner… Kisuke… was seen by one of our men. We thought he had stalled him with the stuffs we did earlier the day but…"
"But!? You thought? I don’t want mistakes, fools!"
"Yes… everything were fine until an outsi…"
"Shut it! No more excuses! Now go or I’ll end your lives right here right now!"

Chris heard suspicious voices of men which is echoing within the hanger. They were discussion something which is highly connected to his client, Kisuke and that with his mercenary instinct, he somehow able to deduct that if it was indeed connected, its definitely more complicated that it first seems to be. On top of that, it even came to his mind that he was the one those men were referring to be the outsider who messed up with their plan given that he’s the one who helped Kisuke and Yuroichi on their stuffs. Probably not. Probably yes.

Upon hearing this, his fast pace of momevent gets even faster with his steps getting heavier and upon reaching the door, which is chained, what Chris did is a single swift movement. He just draw his combat knife and tangled it to the metal handle of the door and with the chains – it snapped. It immediately breaks, of course, using his raw muscular strength at that moment. It did not made any noise.

Its been more than twenty minutes since he started this job for Kisuke and now that he enters the hangar, the time seem not slowing down. Chris’ heart beats does not change as it retain is natural pace even though there might be unexpected encounters. Chris just remained unfazed and focus. The place is even darker with only two to three hanging lights open with the last one dying up. The floor is made of steel so his every steps makes an even louder noise compared to outside. He walks and watches more carefully. Right next to him is the large airship. No people talking. Only him and the airship. He did not waste any moment, though so he immediately searches the place not only for the crew of the airship which were said to be missing and those men who were scheming something against his client.

Finding the hangar just itself with no trace of what he’s looking for, the airship is the only place left so he decided to enter it.

Spoiler:

[Chris]

Entering the airship was easy but there's not enough amount of lighting at all. Chris puts an extra effort to not draw attention to himself and remain unnoticed to those he does not want himself to be seen by or until he find the crew and the captain or everything is under control. He entered the storage room on the near entrance of the airship. He can barely see anything but from the figure of the silhouettes, there’s nothing aside from large boxes, drums and bags. A car and two large metal containers. It is where Chris started his search. He scan each of every boxes, possible false spaces in between and peeking inside each albeit the absence of light. He did the same thing with the rooms outside of the airship so thinking that this would be the last place, he pay even more attention. Minutes have passed and there was nothing from the said containers until he heard a rustle coming from outside and not long after, two men with flashlights approaches.

“Quickly… so we can leave immediately!” a man with a deep tone commanded the other one who appears to be his lackey.

Chris did not took his eyes off the two and from what he observed, judging from what they dress, they’re not from around. Chris thought it was just the man’s accent giving that vibe off to him. It turns out that they were pirates. Airship pirates. And they were heading towards the large two containers. Chris followed the two trying to get closer to them and before the two can even look back, probably feeling Chris’ presence, Chris knocked them out by hitting them on their nape with his gun.

Given the two men’s action, Chris immediately opened the said containers. With just his bare hand, he pulled the lever and forced it to open and inside, he saw the people he’s looking for - four men tightly bounded by ropes with sacks on their heads. They were piled together with bundles of… toy blimps. Same goes to the other one where Chris found the captain having his consciousness back.

Counting a total of eleven men, the captain included, Chris found the men he’s looking for but that does not end there. Chris was only able to wake half of them and it did not take long until he realized that there’s still a gas which is been constantly released inside the containers to induce paralysis or sleepiness. It did affect Chris but only on a slight degree. He’s still focused and got a grip of himself until the others. One by one, he carried then to an open space and closed the containers right after putting the two suspected pirates inside. Chris put the crew of the airship into a safe spot and is planning to get outside to find Kisuke or any handful men for assistance with the disabled men and on his way, the large door of the hangar opened.

Spoiler:

[Chris]

On his way to get some aide or perhaps give his report back to Kisuke to tend to the missing crew of the airship he was tasked to look for, the large door of the hangar suddenly opened with lots of police surging in. At first, thinking that it might be an enemy force, Chris halted and immediately pulled his handgun and aimed it towards the closest man approaching but as soon as he heard warning being given, realizing they were the authorities, he did not pull the trigger of his gun. Still, being armed and unaware that Chris is up to something private, Chris was cornered by the said authorities. They demand him to drop his weapon then put his hands in the air where they can see them, kneel down and lay on the floor like most authorities do on similar cases. Well, not that similar actually. Chris had no choice but he’s not planning on doing what the authorities told him. They were ready to cast their very own magic to apprehend Chris but before something not so good happened, Kisuke appeared out of nowhere.

“Hold on! Easy! Easy! No need for violence. He’s with me!”, Kisuke announced as he shout and runs to Chris. The authorities listened to him but their guards were still up but as for Chris, everything’s almost settled. “He's with me! He’s my man!”, Kisuke was so pleased as he approach Chris who's surprisingly not drank anymore.

“Kisuke, the men you asked me to look for… I already found them. Up there.”
“Sure you do! I was not wrong to ask for your assistance! Thank you for that!”
“But there’s something else I need to tell you. There were men…”
“No need for that, Chris. You found the men. You saved the men. Everything’s fine already. Nothing to worry about! So… hmmmm. Wait. Where’s Yuroichi?”
“Alright. There’s about thirteen of them in total. Eleven crews of the airship. Two from not around.”

Chris told the officer in charge about the status of the men he looked for and as of the moment he understood that the other part of the story played well. Something about the things that Kisuke, himself, handled as search for the lost men. Chris understood it mutually so in silence, he left the scene. Now that everything is settled and it was said that they’d be leaving within an hour, a free ride with Kisuke’s private airship back to Falcon City, Chris is ready to go back home. But before he get his payment and leave, it appears that they need to look for Yuroichi first.

Spoiler:

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