*CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP*

  Ataraxia's combat boots signalled her arrival as she dashed into the fray, yet the footsteps were quickly overpowered by the shouting and chaos she was dashing into.

  Stabbing Teresa into the back of an unsuspecting officer, she quickly sidestepped to avoid another cop's strike. Her knife fshed, csped securely in a reverse grip before burying it into the woman's heart, before finishing off the officer she backstabbed.

  All around her, officer after officer succumbed to the sparse rifle shots from her assistant.

  Finding the approach more reasonable than her previous pn, Ataraxia backed off a reasonable distance, before unholstering her forgotten AK47 and firing a burst of bullets.

  *RATATATA*

  The 7.62 rounds easily pierced the kevr vests the officers wore as their numbers dwindled even further, causing some to find some cover behind the discarded cars.

  *CLICK CLICK*

  'Fucking dead man's click-'

  Taking advantage of the opportunity, the previously cowering officers dashed towards Ataraxia with their batons.

  Quickly holstering her rifle, Ataraxia barely managed to parry a baton before subsequently ducking to avoid a strike at her head from behind. Drawing her pistol, Ataraxia quickly shot an officer three times, hitting the man's head and chest.

  "Heads!" Over the radio, Mumei shouted as she fired at the officers with her dwindling ammo supply, causing Ataraxia to quickly dive prone.

  Nailing most of the officers in the head or chest, either killing them or rendering them unable to continue combat, Mumei holstered her rifle and ran to regroup with Ataraxia, ignoring the cries of fear from the civilians behind her.

  Ataraxia's PoV

  Slitting the throat of the bastard in front of me, my ever-dutiful assistant ran up to me.

  "I'm out of ammo," she said, her eyes darting around checking for danger as she holstered the rifle near her hip again.

  I directed us to cover before unzipping my medical pouch and withdrawing my notepad and pen.

  #Fetch my Ballista from over there and stay in cover.#

  I pointed over to the car I had sniped from before.

  Understanding, she ran to fetch my sniper rifle. Such a good assistant. She almost resembles a dog.

  Most of the Phoenixes didn't survive, but surprisingly enough, the bastards seem to be on their st legs.

  Oh well, didn't expect too many of them to survive after this battle anyway. The losses are well within expected ranges, though it does stretch our forces. Wonder if that leader guy survived?

  In any case, time to clear the bastards up.

  Grabbing the st AK mag from the magazine pouches on my vest, I checked to see how full it was.

  Half-full. More than enough for the surviving rats.

  So they grouped up? In front of me, the remaining five officers grouped up to try and fend off the onsught of knives coming their way.

  Ushering the Phoenixes out of the way, I raised my rifle, not bothering to aim down the sights, and let it rip. Even though they had already died, I dumped the rest of my magazine into them. Morals do not apply to traitors.

  Raising my gaze, I see my remaining pawns - bloodied, but alive. They sure pyed their part well to have survived. As for the fallen, they were useful, but their time was up I guess. Now that the adrenaline dissipated, the metallic scent of blood was free to attract my attention, a scent I'm by no means foreign to, though not to this volume.

  "I'm back- Whoa. Someone got annoyed at the officers." Mumei remarked at the sight before her while carrying my beloved Ballista.

  #Traitors do not deserve to be treated morally.#

  "Agreed. But time to go right?"

  #Right. Gather the civilians. Have the Phoenixes blend in with them the best they can. The civilians might compin, but just ignore them.#

  "Understood."

  "Oi oi! Why are you mixing them up with us?" A civilian protested as he watched his captors blend in with the crowd of victims.

  "Go report them to the police then. I'm sure you won't get killed by them." Mumei retorted, her voice drenched with sarcasm.

  "Ri- right. Whatever you say, ma'am." The vision of the corrupt cops assaulting them was still vivid in the man's mind. Not wanting to be silenced by the police, he decided to keep his mouth shut about his fellow 'civilians'.

  Seeing the group sufficiently mixed up, Ataraxia ordered them to move.

  #Let's move.#

  With her group on the move, Ataraxia ordered Mumei to watch their back whilst she led.

  At the mouth of the tunnel - Ataraxia's PoV

  Guess that woman's the one who started infighting, even if it was only her fighting back. And I'm guessing this piece of shit is the chief or some other high-ranking position. Judging by the blood-smeared ID cards, the Chief was named Lucas Raz and the supposed heroine was named Jane Kee. Congratutions Jane, for standing up against betrayal like that you have earned a glimmer of respect from me.

  Guess I might as well grab her ID card for any retives of hers. Someone who stands against betrayal deserves that at the very least, especially if they died due to their protest.

  Anyway, how am I meant to get this group back to the city... whatever it was called? According to the ID card, the city is called Emberlyn.

  #How do we get them back to Emberlyn?#

  "Call the employer?" Mumei answered after reading my question.

  Why are you asking me?

  Following a questioning gaze from me, Mume swiftly pulled out... a flip phone? I get a high-tech smartphone and she receives a flip phone? Either way, she dialled up Jonathan Steen, hopefully to arrange an extract for us.