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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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[color=#736AFF][b]”High, without a doubt.”[/b][/color] Izayoi responded to Esben, taking note of his work and nodding in approval. Once more, the doubt that someone who openly admitted he was a spy was actually part of SEED diminished. It seemed he really was just excessively eccentric. [color=#736AFF][b]”Not the very highest floor of the manor, but likely the floor directly beneath it.”[/b][/color]

Entering via side gate allowed Team Kirin better access to the castle’s walls. Night began to fall, covering their climb as they began the ascent.

By jump, wing, and rope, the party scaled the exterior of Mizutani Tane’s manse. About halfway up, they reached a terrace upon which they regrouped, clambering up and taking a moment to catch their breath before continuing forward into the building itself. 

Opening the sliding door from terrace to manor interior was where their good fortune ran out, however. By complete, contrived coincidence, the first to open the door was met face-first with two surprised thugs clutching a pack of Valheimr cigarettes, evidently skiving off duty to smoke. Even as Izayoi drew her wakizashi to slam it into one guard’s throat, the other let loose a panicked scream, drawing alarm bells not five seconds later even as Izayoi finished him off. 

[color=#736AFF][b]”Damnation!”[/b][/color] She hissed, replacing the short blade in her hand with the long one and starting to stalk forward. [color=#736AFF][b]”The element of surprise is lost. Come! We find the stairs and advance!”[/b][/color]

On their charge forward, the Kirins would be met with scattered resistance, easily dispatched in twos and threes, largely armed with katanas and knives, though a few carried Valheimr firearms. Evidently, it seemed security coverage was lessened on this high of a floor. 

“Where in the hells did these people come from?!” One thug screamed in panic as he slammed the bolt back on his rifle.

“Most of our lads are below! We need to hold out until they can make it up!”

Upon reaching a staircase leading both up and down, the Kirins would be met by a firing line of a dozen men and women kneeling with rifles, forcing the party into cover and evasion. Izayoi scowled as she deflected a stray round with her blade, unable to handle so many riflemen head on at once in her diminished state. 

Not two floors up, Mizutani Tane raised an eyebrow as her tea time was interrupted by the sound of gunfire and screaming.