Mastermind in Kivotos (Blue Archive X Payday)

Ch. 8 Devil's Crossroads, Part 1

MASTERMIND IN KIVOTOS CH 8, Devil's Crossroads, Part 1: Prelude

One Week after BA Bank Heist. 12:03PM Gehenna Standard Time.

BGM: Blue Archive OST 33. Vivid Night

A man stood on a cobblestone road looking up towards the sky, adjusting his black flat cap to block out the afternoon sun as a dark blue helicopter flew past. The winds cause his Black Casual yet Formal Workman styled overcoat flutters in the breeze, showing a brief glimpse of a light ballistic vest underneath. He adjusts the coat with his hands covered by black workman's gloves as he walks towards the helicopter's landing site, moving with ease in his jeans.

Gehenna, one of the "Great Three Academies" alongside Millennium Science School and Trinity General School. They are the most influential and largest schools in Kivotos. Sharing a long history alongside Trinity, they have a long standing rivalry spanning decades. The academy prides itself on the freedom of its students, regardless of the chaos and destruction they cause with it.

While outwardly casually walking, the man took in his surroundings: the buildings that flanked the cobble streets were Gothic architecture styled, late German Gothic to be exact. Although there were signs of several gun fights occurring in the streets from all the bullet holes and blast charring, it was for the most part clean. Taking into account that Gehenna, also known as Hell in Christianity; the general chaos the school faces on a daily basis, the various students' demonic traits, the German-style architecture, German guns from going by the students walking by him including a red head with twin cherry colored STG-44s, a casual blonde haired girl with a tactically modded black and red M416, pudgy horned girl with a modernized MG3, and a regal lookin girl with long hair and a PSG-1; their rivalry with the Christian and British styled Trinity Academy. The parallels couldn't be more highlighted and underlined in his face.

The cobblestone street then opened up to a wider clearing. Several crates and pallets were strewn about in the process of being moved for storage or placed for pick up. Various workers and guards, both students and automatons, busied themselves around the warehouse. There were three helipads, with one helicopter touching down, the white logo of a bird flying beneath a crescent moon painted on it gleaming in the afternoon light.

The man flashed a pass to the Black helmeted redhead and walked past towards the helicopter. The helicopter pilot exits out, dressed in a dark blue shirt who takes off her headset and cap letting her black ponytail free.

Man: Plover, How was your flight?

Plover: I think I did pretty well Mr. Neil!

???: If missing the package drop is well, then she did terrific by missing three.

Out from the passenger side of the helicopter came out an black automaton. Rather than a civilian chassis, he had a military grade one with heavy armoring and the ornate white hexagon logo on his face plate.

Bain: That is unfortunate Riley, any damages or trouble that occurred because of it?

Riley: Eh, no major damages to property or the packages. She just missed the shot by 3 to 5 meters from each target and might have hit a bush or two. She's okay but still needs to improve. She might have passed the online pilot test, but she needs practical knowledge.

Bain: (Internally ) Still wrapping my head around students mostly learning by books and video, then doing online or written tests for grades. Surprisingly, the Academy City only has a single teacher and they only got hired around a year ago: Sensei of SCHALE. Still can't believe it.

Riley: I'll get you your payment, cash, for your service today. Thank you for working for Nachtflug Air Delivery Services today. The Market thanks you for your service.