As Eliza met Mr. President Aaron Hills in his office, Aaron Hills, he began, "Eliza, the Silver Prism, thank you for coming."
Eliza replied, "Pleasure, Mr. President. So, what's your reason for inviting me here?"
Aaron Hills chuckled, "Very direct, aren't you?" He continued, "Silver Prism, it seems your reputation and how you successfully manage to complete every operation have caught my attention."
Eliza remained silent, prompting Aaron Hills to continue, "It seems I have a request for you, Eliza."
Eliza shifted her posture, gracefully crossing her legs. Her voice retained its characteristic stoicism as she inquired, "A request?"
Aaron Hills chuckled before explaining, "White King has aspirations for my presidential position. If I don't comply, he might plot against me. Eliza, I need you to ensure my safety on the way to South Port for an important meeting. That's your mission."
Aaron Hills continued, "So, what do you think? Is the request too much for you?"
Eliza remained silent for a moment before responding, "I understand your concerns. However, don't you already have soldiers accompanying you?"
Aaron Hills explained, "Certainly, I have a security detail, but what if we encounter an unexpected ambush, especially with adversaries piloting mechs? That's why I want Silver Prism to join and accompany me. With Silver Prism's reputation, I believe our journey will be safer and more secure."
Eliza replied, her voice calm and measured, "Hmmm... I see. If I were to accept the offer, I have one condition."
Aaron Hills, intrigued, inquired, "What is your condition?"
Eliza leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze fixed on the president. She spoke with a measured tone, "I want you to ensure the safety of Silver Prism. If anything were to happen to us, you must take responsibility for our protection, Mr. President. Agreed?"
The room fell into a momentary silence as Aaron Hills contemplated Eliza's condition. Finally, he nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the agreement. "Agreed," he said with a firm resolve, sealing the terms of their arrangement.
Somewhere in a quiet place, Jericho gradually regained consciousness. As he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sound of a child's voice exclaiming, "Amy! Looks like he's finally awake!"
Attempting to rise, Jericho felt a sharp pain coursing through his body. Confusion clouded his thoughts as he struggled to piece together the events leading to his current state. The only recollection he could grasp was of the mechanical dragons invading the abandoned city during his mission.
Amy, a young woman with peach-colored hair and vibrant blue eyes, approached him. "Don't move... you're still injured," she cautioned, her concern evident in her gaze.
In the midst of Jericho's confusion, Amy offered reassurance. "I understand you might be feeling disoriented, but it's thanks to you that those children were saved."
Jericho's memory slowly started to piece together the events. He recalled the chaotic scene after the mechanical dragon's departure, facing off against other mechs. In a sacrificial act, he had put himself on the line to protect the children. Half of his mech was left in ruins. Miraculously, the backup team and the refugees residing in the abandoned city intervened, managing to rescue him and fend off the remaining invaders.
As Jericho's eyes widened in surprise, the old man's voice echoed through the room. "So, you finally awake?"
Jericho turned his head, locking eyes with the unexpected visitor. "You! You are..."
The old man replied with a hint of amusement, "Why the surprised look?"
Jericho pressed on, still grappling with disbelief. "You are the former Fleet Admiral Garelick... but how?"
The room held an air of tension and curiosity, a blend of emotions as Jericho tried to fathom the presence of a once-commanding figure, now standing before him.
As Amy inquired, "Father, do you know this guy?" Garelick responded with uncertainty, "I don't know him, but it's curious how he knows me."
Jericho clarified, "I know you because I work with Eliza. She is our boss in The Silver Prism. Our boss, Eliza, had her mentor, and her mentor is Commander Alexander."
Garelick pondered for a moment. "Alexander? I see, he must be doing well."
The room buzzed with a mixture of curiosity and revelations, adding depth to the unfolding connections between the characters and enhancing the overall intrigue of the scene.
Jericho, recalling the past, replied, "Yes, he's doing well. Commander Alexander was promoted as the next Fleet Admiral."
Garelick nodded, prompting Jericho to delve deeper. "Now tell me, where have you been? What brought you here?"
The room held an air of anticipation as the mystery of Garelick's presence and Jericho's inquiry hung in the balance, intensifying the intrigue in the unfolding narrative.
Garelick couldn't help but smile at Jericho's curiosity, and he began, "I knew you would ask that. You want to know the reason? The reason I've been missing this whole time is because of those children."
Jericho, his eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and disbelief, added, "Those children? But why?"
Garelick's gaze remained focused as he continued, "Those children are from The Children of Eden. They were subjected to gruesome experiments and tortured, transformed into creatures resembling that mechanical dragon."
Jericho, his memories flashing back to encounters with other mechanical creatures, interjected, "You mean, just like other mechanical worms? Mechanical jellyfish? We used to encounter them."
Garelick nodded solemnly, his expression revealing the weight of his past. "Yes, but these experiments were specifically conducted on innocent children. During my days as Fleet Admiral, the government, known as The Artificial, collaborated on this sinister project with the White King. After discovering the horrifying truth about what they did to those children, I decided to free them. However, I could only manage to rescue a few. The White King got wind of my plan and ordered his Seven Sword Unit to go against me. I instructed Amy my daughter to escape with those children. I intended to reunite with them later, but fate had other plans. The Seven Sword Unit attacked me, believing they had successfully eliminated me, but I managed to survive."
The room fell into a tense silence as Jericho absorbed the gravity of Garelick's revelation, the emotional weight hanging heavy in the air.
Jericho, trying to grasp the reality unfolding before him, asked, "So until this day, you, your daughter, and those children are hiding in this abandoned city?"
Garelick, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and determination, replied, "Yes, this is the only place we can call home. It may not be much, but in order to survive, we've managed to carve out a life here. This city is known as The Silent City."
Jericho, his voice tinged with concern, added, "The Silent City? I see... You know, I have a fear that the dragon, what if it found out that GENESIS is still around..."
Garelick, surprised, questioned, "GENESIS is still there?"
Jericho affirmed, "Yes, GENESIS is with us, and his pilot is named Joseph."
The tension in the room rose as the mention of GENESIS brought a mix of surprise and apprehension. Jericho's fear for the safety of those in The Silent City became more evident, while Garelick grappled with the unexpected revelation.
Jericho continued, his curiosity evident, "What are your plans now, Garelick?"
Garelick, with determination, added, "Right now, I want you to rest and heal your wounds, Amy. Make sure to treat his wounds. Later, we will discuss The Children of Eden. I want to rescue all of them."