In a random forest within a prison island in the middle of nowhere. Multiple helicopters hovered over the ground with searchlights gleaming throughout the area. Their propellers reverberated through the air scattering a bunch of leaves throughout the forest.
But below the multiple helicopters searching for intruders was the darkness hidden beneath a crevice of a mound. There dwelled three individuals who had met together and were currently escaping the frantic search of the military.
Silence shrouded the three as the buff dark-cloak figure kept staring at an old man wearing a cell uniform. The old man glances at him with no fear in his eyes as he quietly mutters towards the figure.
"It's been a while, son."
"Decades have passed, father."
"Unexpected for the two of us to meet again once more."
The buff dark-cloak figure responded with calm sarcasm. One could already deduce that he wasn't happy with the emergence of his father, which was understandable for someone like him. He had met his father as a child, but never as an adult.
The relationship between the two was heavily complicated.
"Talk later... We need to escape this place first." Another dark cloak figure wearing a fox mask uttered while wearing a pair of military boots stolen from the guards.
The buff dark-cloak figure, or Abraham, was somewhat surprised to see the boots of his boss becoming different than the ones he had seen before. It looks like the former boots got destroyed, but how it was destroyed, was another question.
Abraham knew the answer and it was kind of obvious after being with their boss for quite a while. The boss must have kicked something sturdy down causing the destruction of the boots.
"Do you have any suggestion, Boss?" The old man Thomas questioned wanting to know about the plans of his new master. On the other hand, Abraham furrowed his eyebrows under his hound mask.
It looks like his father had already accepted his boss as their leader. Although he couldn't help but feel that his position was being threatened. He understood how skilled his father was, and Lord Solace might consider it as an important asset.
Which means that his father might gain a high-ranking position within the organization. Though that was to be expected for the strong. The strong would always have better opportunities than the weak. Abraham had been taught such lessons since childhood.
So within his mind. He became determined to become stronger and smarter than ever before. Abraham was still at the ripe age of 33. He could still learn and grow. Perhaps, he might surpass his father under the guidance of Lord Solace.
"I was thinking of stealing a patrol boat, but I guess that would be a bad idea." Lord Solace, none other than Mercedes, remarked which made the two men drop some cold sweat from their foreheads.
Their boss was extremely reckless and the patrolling military boats and warships would probably sink the patrol boat. It was a dangerous plan, yet the only method of escape they had.
"Since it would be hard to steal a patrol boat with the navy on the coastline. I'll be the bait and cause chaos in the opposite port. The two of you, on the other hand, should steal a patrol boat and get out of the prison island."
Mercedes uttered her idea which caused some reaction from the two men. Abraham clearly wanted to reject the idea while Thomas felt that it was a bit too reckless. Fighting against the military was a fool's errand for a normal human.
However, they understood that their leader was far from a normal human. She had long surpassed it and her strength could easily crush the skulls of humans.
"And this is an order, I don't want to hear any rejection." Mercedes continued and took down the signs of rejection her subordinates had. While she appreciated their efforts of staying right beside her. Their capabilities weren't strong enough against the military.
Only Mercedes had some capacity to withstand the might of the nation.
If they continued staying beside her, they would be nothing more than bags that would weigh her down. With this in mind, she glances at them with a cold determination.
Abraham lowered his head and slowly nodded while Thomas sighed before agreeing with the plan. Having a troublemaker as a boss was problematic for someone as old as him. But such was fate. It never makes it easy for anyone.
As the two agreed with her plan, Mercedes didn't waste any time and got out of the dark crevice and sprinted off into the distance. Her speed was faster than the sprinting session she had with Abraham. It was a speed that rivaled that of a storming car.
With Mercedes leaving, the father and son were left behind. Silence once again conquered the surroundings and Thomas decided to break it for the second time.
"So you're a hound now, huh."
It wasn't a mocking tone that escaped Thomas's mouth. It was mere curiosity that wondered how his son became a hound of someone. It looks like they were the same even though they hadn't met each other for a long time.
"It's a long story." Abraham didn't want to talk too much since he was worried about the fate of his boss. Seeing his anxiousness, Thomas closed his eyelids and remarked.
"You do know the strength of your master, correct?"
"Of course, I know of Lord Solace's might." Abraham furrowed his eyebrows since what kind of question was that? He was the closest aide of Lord Solace and was the one managing the organization. Why would his father question him of an obvious knowledge?
"Well, since you're not a dumbass. I'm sure you have an image of your master's capabilities. Do you think that your master wouldn't be able to do it? Do you think of your master as a weak individual who needs protection?"
Thomas had a feeling that his son was becoming a bit too emotional with the boss. But with the boss's beauty, which was actually hidden from the others, it was understandable from his own perspective.
But from the perspective of his son... What did he see of the boss? A weak person? An easily broken mirror?
Although, after thinking about it for a short while, Thomas finally realized the perspective of his son. It was easy for an assassin like him since it was the same for Thomas. He understood such a feeling.
"So the boss is the symbol of your reverence and you don't want that to be broken in any shape or form. With the boss's enigmatic charisma and might, I understand your admiration. But... You should keep your expectations grounded in reality."
"The boss isn't some god or an omnipresent being. If the boss has a mask, that means that there is an identity that the boss wishes to be hidden. If the boss wants to create hounds, then it would be because of the desire to protect."
"I'm sure you already understand what I'm trying to say, correct?"
Abraham thought about the words of his father and couldn't deny any of his father's words. He glanced in the direction where Lord Solace was headed and a smile emerged on his face.
"No matter the shape or form of Lord Solace. I respect the might and mentality the lord has in life. Lord Solace understands their limits and knows the limits of their reach. The reason why the lord created the organization was to expand their influence."
"And that expansion was to protect something."
"I already know that much. There's no need for you to remind me, father."
Meanwhile, Mercedes was sprinting through the dark woods at over a hundred miles per hour. She appeared like a shadowy breeze of wind causing the branches and leaves to ruffle under her speed. It didn't take time before she arrived at the warehouse where she'll start their escape plan.
The warehouse was near the port and was the best place to bring some disorder. How? Well, the answer was simple. What was the most flashiest way to attract someone or something?
It was through an explosion.
A flash of light gleamed through the darkness of the night as a cloud of smoke rose through the air. A vibration expanded outward causing a thunderous roar to echo throughout the vicinity.
*BOOM!!!*
Alarms began ringing and the scouting helicopters started heading towards the explosion site. Mercedes was calmly walking away from the crimson flames of the explosion. She never thought that it would be so easy to cause something to explode.
"Having a couple of C4s really is a blessing. Raiding that warehouse wasn't a bad choice at all." Mercedes felt beauty from the explosions she caused. It was like an art before her eyes.
But of course, she'd rather not become a bomber in the eyes of others.
"It's time for me to go back since I had already completed it," Mercedes muttered and kept walking through the woods. She glances at her interface before a smirk appears on her face. There was a reason she was adamant about rescuing the old man.
"*Sigh...* My sub-quests are becoming flashier. Yet, it makes it even more intriguing."
She placed her hand behind her head and took each step with nonchalance.
This was the moment when the demon-fox figure had once again caused ripples throughout the federation. Numerous individuals, groups, and organization will start their investigation to find out about the identity of the mysterious figure.
"But... I'll have to lay low after this."
A cold glint was in Mercedes's sapphire-like eyes before she faded into the darkness of the forest.