It was such a day in the Silver Prism motherbase, the hum of activity enveloped the surroundings as Eliza found herself interrupted by an unexpected phone call. With a poised yet inquisitive tone, she answered, "Yes, hello?"
A mysterious voice emanated from the other end, "Hey, Eliza. It's me."
Maintaining her stoic demeanor, Eliza questioned, "Aiden? It's been a long time since we last communicated. What brings you to contact us now?"
Aiden's voice held a sense of urgency, "Eliza, listen carefully. I find myself in need of your assistance this time."
Eliza, ever composed, responded, "To imagine that the Fearsome Man, Aiden seeks aid from the Silver Prism... What is it that you seek?"
Aiden's voice held a sense of urgency as he continued, "I want you to reclaim the City of Yiville."
Eliza, intrigued and slightly concerned, questioned, "The City of Yiville? What has happened to that city? Isn't it known for having one of the best security systems?"
Aiden's response carried a weight of concern, "Eliza, you see, the city has finally fallen into the hands of unknown mercenary bands. They've forced the residents to evacuate. This time, I need your help, Eliza."
Aiden continued, his voice reflecting the gravity of the situation, "The City of Yiville plays a crucial role in our society. If it falls into the wrong hands, I can't even imagine what will happen next."
Eliza, understanding the stakes, replied, "I see. Even a man like you is concerned for society. Then we will help you."
Aiden expressed gratitude, "Great, thank you, Eliza. I will hire mercenaries to aid you in this operation."
As Eliza's voice echoed through the speakers, she announced, "Joseph, Asher, Felix, come to my office."
As the three of them entered Eliza's office, she began, "Looks like we have another operation."
Joseph inquired, "Another operation? Where is it from?"
Eliza replied, "It's from Aiden."
Asher, surprised, exclaimed, "Aiden?!"
Eliza continued, "So you know him?"
Felix explained, "Yes, we know him – Aiden the Fearsome Man."
Joseph asked, "The Fearsome Man? Can you explain more?"
Eliza delved into the details, "Aiden, the Fearsome Man," she began, "He's the man who knows no fear and dangerous man, standing against even the White King and the Seven Sword Unit. When Aiden used to against the White King and the Seven Sword Unit, his reputation rise. By his reputation Aiden created a fund and managed to build the City of Yiville, a seemingly well-secured city, but in truth, it became a haven for the lowest class. The reason behind its takeover, Aiden did not disclose to me."
Joseph inquired further, "i see.. the City of Yiville...Boss, do you know Aiden well?"
Eliza continued, "Of course, I know him. I used to work under him, and he once had feelings for me. The day when he proposed, I rejected him and left the City of Yiville. That marked the beginning of the Silver Prism."
Felix questioned Eliza, "But why did you reject him?"
Eliza replied, "When a man falls in love, it changes them fundamentally. It makes you lose yourself, become hypocritical, and constantly worry about the other person's feelings. A single wrong word can lead to endless explanations, and the cost in time is too high. I didn't want him to ruin his own life."
Eliza continue "have you ever read about Shang dynasty and Zhou dynasty? When women enter the early historical record, it is often because they caused men problems."
Asher, concerned, asked Eliza, "Boss, are you okay with those words you just said?"
Eliza, maintaining her stoic demeanor, responded, "Of course, I'm okay with it. It's a fact, and there's no use in dwelling on things I can't change."
She continued, "Enough talk; it's time to focus on preparing for the next operation."
Joseph, Asher, and Felix entered the preparation room, the air filled with anticipation as they grabbed their pilot suits. The room echoed with the rustling of fabric as they swiftly adorned their uniforms, each movement reflecting the routine of seasoned pilots gearing up for another mission. The low hum of the room intensified the sense of urgency, creating an atmosphere charged with the impending mission.
As the trio moved to the hangar bay, the massive metal doors opened to reveal their awaiting mechs. Luther, accompanied by Sally, welcomed them with a determined expression. He addressed Asher and Felix, "I've made some enhancements to your mechs. The plasma cannons now have improved efficiency, and overall movement and overheat issues have been addressed."
Turning his attention to Joseph, Luther continued, "For GENESIS, I've upgraded the armor with a more agile material. It should allow for better maneuverability in tight situations. Make sure to test them out and get familiar before heading into action."
Asher and Felix expressed their gratitude in unison, "Thank you, Luther."
Joseph, showing concern, replied, "Thanks, Luther. Take care of yourself; your well-being is important to us."
Luther humbly responded, "It's not just me. Sally, Max, and Kotu played crucial roles. We're a team, and I couldn't have done it without their help." The camaraderie among the team members resonated in Luther's words, emphasizing the collective effort behind their successes.
Erina, catching her breath, handed Joseph a charm she had crafted. "Joseph, take this charm with you. I made it for protection, hoping you'll stay safe this time."
Joseph, appreciating the gesture, accepted the charm. "Thank you, Erina. Your charm and GENESIS have got my back."
Concerned, Erina insisted, "Even with GENESIS, promise me you'll be extra careful."
Joseph assured her, "I'll take every precaution. Once it's done, we'll celebrate with a meal together, okay?"
Erina smiled and agreed, "Sure, Joseph. I'll be waiting for you." The exchange between them reflected a mix of care, hope, and determination.
As Joseph settled into the control system of GENESIS, Eliza's voice echoed through the communication system, connecting him with Hell Brothers. "For this mission, Aiden will be our support. He's hiring a mercenary to aid us in the operation."
With GENESIS and Hell Brothers poised for action, Eliza's instructions continued. "The mission will unfold at the entrance of the City of Yiville. Proceed cautiously, and most importantly, do not disappoint me."
The thrusters of GENESIS and Hell Brothers roared to life as they counted down, "3, 2, 1," and swiftly propelled themselves into action. The journey led them to the front entrance of the City of Yiville.
As GENESIS and Hell Brothers reached the entrance of the City of Yiville, a familiar face greeted them – a mercenary named William. Joseph, taken aback, exclaimed, "William?!"
With a hearty laugh, William responded, "Hahahah, to think that we meet again, buddy."
Asher interjected, "So, BEOWULF, you're working under Aiden?"
Acknowledging Asher, William said, "Hey, it's you again. Looks like you and your younger brother Felix are doing well under the Silver Prism."
William continued their banter, "Hey, Joseph, how's Jennifer? Is she doing well?"
Joseph replied, "Yeah, she's doing well."
"Great," William said, "after our operation is done, I want to pay her a visit."
Aiden intervened, redirecting their focus, "I see... you used to work with them, huh? Great. Now, focus on our operation. Hear me out; we don't know how many mercenary mechs are hiding in this city. Proceed cautiously."
As they initiated their movement, William informed them, "BEOWULF will activate the invisible cloak; I will cover you." BEOWULF seamlessly transitioned into invisibility, blending into the surroundings.
Upon cautiously entering the City of Yiville, Aiden's voice resonated over their comms, "There is one of my mercenaries' destroyed mechs; I'll send you a signal. Maybe we can gather some information."
Following the signal Aiden transmitted, GENESIS and Hell Brothers navigated through the city streets. Eliza's voice echoed over their comms, "Looks like the city is eerily silent. Be careful."
The interplay of technology, strategy, and caution added depth to their mission, creating a sense of suspense and anticipation.
Upon reaching the location of Aiden's mercenaries' destroyed mech, GENESIS and Hell Brothers meticulously scanned the area, including the remnants of the mech, to gather crucial information. Among the scattered debris, they discovered journals from deceased mercenaries. The entries recounted the harrowing attack on the City of Yiville by an unidentified group of mercenary mechs. The mercenaries expressed being outnumbered and facing a formidable foe, notably describing a mech with an emerald color and a mono-eye. The journal entries warned future readers of the deadly adversary and urged caution.
As Eliza voiced over the comms, contemplating the possibility of the emerald-colored mono-eye mech being the infamous EMERALD PHANTOM, Aiden, intrigued, sought more information.
Eliza confirmed her suspicions, recounting past encounters with EMERALD PHANTOM, a mech associated with the Zacharias family, serving under Azure King. The revelation of this connection added a layer of complexity and danger to the situation.
Aiden, absorbing this information, responded with a thoughtful "I see..." Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, GENESIS and Hell Brothers found themselves encircled by a group of unidentified mercenaries' mechs, intensifying the suspense and setting the stage for a potentially challenging confrontation.