The rest of the convoy safely arrived at the Ruthenian Embassy. The man-at-arms stationed outside the embassy signaled theirrades to open the gate.


    As the convoy drove along the road towards the Embassy, the guards were stunned to see bullet holes riddled the vehicle’s body, the ss was full of cracks to the point it whitened the surface, making it hard for him to see through the upiers.


    “What happened to them?” the guard muttered under his breath as he watched the ck SUV that was in the same state entered the gate.


    And there he noticed, strangely, there should be three vehicles arriving, but why is it only two? What happened to the other one?


    Just as he wondered about the answer, another guard shouted from within the vicinity of the embassy grounds.


    “Shut the gate! Everyone, get inside!”


    The guard snapped out of his daze and hurried inside, followed by a few others. As soon as the gates closed behind them, ten to fifteen guards ran over the damaged vehicle to help those who were inside.


    The door of the vehicle opened, revealing the Grand Duchesses, tightly embracing each other with their heads lowered.


    The moment the guards recognized them through their distinguishable features, they immediately stood in attention, giving their respect to the Grand Duchesses of the Ruthenia Empire.


    They also noticed that they were shivering in fear, probably traumatized from the attack. The Grand Duchesses was followed by a blonde-haired man carrying a gun, pressing a finger on his earpiece._.


    His voice was so loud that it could be heard by all the people on the ground.


    “We’ve arrived at the Ruthenian Embassy! Oleg and Igor are down,” the man barked, rubbing his eyes as he tried to adjust his sight, “Yes sir! The package is safe and is now entering the embassy. We need to get the hell out of here ASAP, the Yamato won’t stand idly and let us have our time here…”


    He paused momentarily until he got a response from someone of a higher rank.


    “Copy that…how long is the extraction? Three hours? I got it.”


    After the man finished talking with someone from the earpiece, he yelled to the guards.


    “Who is the security chief of this embassy?”


    “I am, sir!” the security chief walked forward. “The name is Gregor Sidorov,” he saluted upon his introduction.


    “Gregor? I am Rn Makarov, the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guards of the Ruthenian Empire, acting head of security for the Grand Duchesses,” Rn introduced himself fluidly and continued. “I want all your men to take positions along the perimeter. Tell them to not take their eyes off their designated area. That’s all.”


    Gregor stood there nkly, did he just say he was the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guards? That’s like the personal bodyguard for the Emperor. To think that he would have such an honor as an important person is fascinating—


    “Oi? You’re listening?” Rn pped him in the face lightly


    Gregor jolted back, “Yes sir! I understand.”


    “Good,” Rn patted him on the shoulder and then moved away and ented the embassy.


    “Everyone in position!” Gregormanded the guards in a deep tone of authority.


    All of the guards stood in unison with their arms locked across their chests, “Yes sir!”


    After that, the guards quickly dispersed and began their positions while waiting for further orders.


    Inside, Rn caught up to the group. A stifling silence prevailed between everyone. He took notice of some of the men’s expressions filled with horror.


    They just got out of the deadly ambush unscathed thanks to their vehicle. It’s so strong and impervious that it can even take a hit from a shell. If it would have been a normal vehicle, they won’t have even gotten past the intersection.


    “Are you guys alright?” Rn asked the four.


    “Yes sir!” They intoned together as they stood firm.


    “Where is the package?” Rn asked.


    “They are in their room, sir.”


    “Okay, I want your heads in the game. Our situation is still uncertain, the militia from the Yamato Empire attacked us so suddenly and unprovoked. There’s no telling that they would try it again. So we are going to make this embassy a temporary fortress. I want you to unmount the M134 from the vehicle and set it up on the roof. Those will give us the necessary firepower. If we are getting support or not from the military is something that I’m not aware of, so I’ll tell you once I know more.”


    “Copy that sir!” They saluted.


    After briefing his men, Rn headed to the room where the Grand Duchesses were staying.


    He knocked on the door.


    “Enter,” he heard Christina’s voice from inside the door.


    “Excuse me,” Rn turned the doorknob and found the Grand Duchesses sitting on a single sofa. Still affected by the recent attack made by the Yamatos.


    “Are you guys feeling okay? Were you hurt?”


    “We’re fine,” Tiffania said, hugging her knees close to her chest while staring into nothingness; the trauma clearly visible on her expression.


    Rn couldn’t help but feel sad seeing how they were so distressed. He had never seen the Grand Duchesses whose faces are beautiful and innocent be so distraught by such an event, especially if that incident is what makes them act like that.


    ?[0??]? “Sir…Rn…why did they attack us?” Anastasia asked in an innocent voice with trembling lips; she was holding Tiffania’s hand as tight as possible.


    Rn sighed softly. “I’m sorry but I don’t know either. We are doing our best to figure that out. But one thing is certain…they attacked you, the Grand Duchesses of the Ruthenia Empire, on Yamato soil. A war may break out between the Ruthenian Empire and the Yamato Empire again…”


    “What happened to the two guys who were left behind?” Christina said so softly that he almost didn’t catch it.


    “The Yamato pinned them down and got killed,” Rn announced somberly.


    “Oh my god…” Christina gasped softly before cing a hand on her chest and letting out a shaky breath.


    Tiffania looked up at him and whispered, “Is it really true…?”


    Rn simply nodded his head. Then he flickered his gaze back to Christina. “Do you still want to contact your brother?”


    “Yes,” Christina answered.


    “Please follow me,” Rn opened the door for them and they walked through the corridor, which was dimly lit with fluorescent lights.


    And they arrived at the office where the ambassador of the Ruthenia Empire resides.


    The ambassador stood in his seat and bowed in front of them. “Your Imperial Highness…I’m Arseny, what can I do for you?”


    “Her Imperial Highness wishes to speak with the Emperor,” Rn answered in her stead. “Contact St. Petersburg.”


    “Uhm…that would be a problem, sir,” Arseny frowned slightly. “For some unknown reasons, ourmunication lines have been cut off, leaving us without any means of contacting St. Petersburg or anyone else.”


    Rn furrowed his brows. He knew something was definitely fishy regarding what happened with the attacks earlier.


    “Looks like Yamato has cut our lines,” Rn muttered and faced a rather distraught Christina. “Don’t worry, Your Imperial Highness, we can still contact your brother through my earpiece. You see, this was ssified but I’m dessifying it now. Ever since our arrival, AWAC nes have been secretly flying over Tokyo in shifts from 30,000 feet picking up encrypted signals transmitted from a hidden radio operations room in the embassy itself. It acts as a ry system that keeps us in touch with the Eastern Command, which then connects us to the Central Command.”


    “I see,” Christina replied after looking into Rn’s eyes for a short while. After a while, she finally decided to ask. “May I?”


    “Of course…” Rn agreed but before doing so, he faced the ambassador. “I heard that there is an agent here who gave us intel about the attack. Where can I find him?”