Raid #18

Returning to Palbagos Island, I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I approached our base. However, that relief quickly turned to dread as I took a deep breath of the fresh air, only to have it catch in my throat at the sight before me.

The base was in complete disarray. Structures were damaged, many of the Pals were missing, and the log cabin, our main shelter, was riddled with holes. Panic surged through me, and I immediately called out for Elena.

"Elena! Where are you?"

Moments later, she emerged from the log cabin, her arm wrapped in a bloodied bandage. My heart sank as I rushed up to her, my eyes widening at the sight of her injury.

"What happened?" I demanded, my voice strained with concern.

Elena gave me a weary smile, trying to downplay the situation. "The base was under attack. Rayne Syndicate goons."

"Why would they do that?" I frowned, shaking my head. "No, wait, are you okay?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, though I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. "It's nothing out of the usual. Everyone's out to get everyone, whether for sport or to plunder resources."

I stared at her bandaged arm, unable to stop a frown from forming. "Your arm…"

Elena glanced at her injury, brushing it off. "A bullet grazed me. I got careless. It's not serious."

I cursed under my breath, frustration boiling over. "I should have built more defenses around the base."

Elena nodded. "Relax. We lost some easily replaceable work pals, but that's it. Though upgrading the defenses is never a bad idea..."

"I'll get on it," I said firmly. "But first, I brought gifts."

I began to empty out the items I had bought, spreading them out on a makeshift table. Canned food, instant noodles, feminine products, and even basic medicine and first aid materials. Elena's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of the supplies.

"You went shopping?" Elena asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

I grinned and said, "And then some," before reaching into my inventory and retrieving several guns, enough to fully arm six people. Elena's eyes lit up like a kid in a toy store as she excitedly picked up an AK-47, giving it an inspecting look.

"This is the same as the assault rifles the top officers of the PIDF use, but even better," she said, her voice tinged with awe.

"What's the PIDF?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"The Palbagos Island Defense Force," she replied, her tone shifting to one of disdain. "They claim to be some law enforcement force duty-bound to keep the peace, but they're just self-serving hypocrites out to monopolize the island's resources in the name of the greater good."

Vito chuckled as he materialized near me, his presence as casual as ever. "Sounds a lot like our government."

I smiled bitterly, shaking my head. "That's another thing on my list of things I don't want to run into."

I shook off the stray thoughts, focusing back on the task at hand. "Get something to eat and rest while I build up some walls around the base," I told Elena.

She shook her head, a stubborn gleam in her eye. "I'm alright. I'll tag along and watch you work. I'm feeling bored."

I sighed but nodded, appreciating her company. Together, we moved to the perimeter of the base, assessing the natural defense, and where they needed to be bolstered. The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the heat of the day, and the sounds of the island's nocturnal creatures filled the silence.

To the east, the base was protected by a towering cliff face, while the lake separated the base from the rest of the area on the south and west sides. However, the base could still be attacked via the road leading down to the Grassy Behemoth hills on the north, and the small bridge going over the lake to the northwest.

The bridge was narrow, and the small road was flanked by elevated areas, making them both easily defensible. I needed to add a gate at each entrance along with tall wooden walls in the less elevated areas. Maybe even some sandbags on the higher ground.

Nodding to myself, I began to work, since I already had enough wood in my inventory, while Elena sat on a rock nearby, devouring a can of beans like it was some gourmet dish.

"Where did you get all this stuff?" she asked between bites, her curiosity piqued. "And where did you get the gold coins to buy it all?"

I hesitated for a moment, considering my words carefully. "I didn't use gold coins," I replied. "I used another currency to buy these items."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Another currency? What kind, and you still didn't tell me where you went, you know?"

"I can't really share where I got them from," I said, trying to keep my tone light. I couldn't tell her that I came from another world, that I'd crossed dimensions to go on a shopping spree, which included making an illegal deal with a not-job gang boss.

At best, she'd be breathing down my neck to get her out of here, which I wasn't sure I could do. Not now, at least. At worst, she would start looking at me like I was some kind of crazy person, which I might actually be.

Elena studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You have a lot of secrets," she finally said, her tone almost accusing.

"I do," I admitted, not wanting to lie to her. "I'm not sure I'll ever be able to share them with you... maybe in the future, but definitely not now..."

She nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Fair enough. Just... do me a favor and don't keep anything that could get me killed from me, will you?"

I smiled, feeling a pang of guilt at the secrets I still held. "I can promise you that much," I said, resuming my work. Using the wristwatch, I began constructing the walls, gates, and sandbags around the base with precision and efficiency. The structures rose quickly, creating a more fortified perimeter.

When I finally finished, I walked over to Elena, who was ruefully looking at her empty can of beans. I chuckled and pulled a can of fruits from my inventory, offering it to her. She accepted it gratefully, her eyes lighting up at the sight of something sweet.

As she dug into the canned fruits, I sat on the ground beside her. "So, tell me more about the people who attacked the base," I said, genuinely curious and concerned.

"They were just thugs," she replied, shaking her head. "Out to score some resources. The base looked like a big fat target if there ever was one." She chuckled. "The Rayne Syndicate, unlike the PIDF, doesn't like to sugarcoat things. They're a bunch of raiders and highwaymen, and they don't pretend to be otherwise."

"How many were there, and how well-armed were they?" I asked, needing to assess the threat level.

"It was just a patrol team, about eight of them," she said. "All armed with clubs except for three, who had makeshift pistols made from spare junk. They can only fire one shot before needing to reload. It's almost comical."

I sighed in relief. "It's a good thing they weren't well-armed. We'll be ready for them if they show up again."

Elena shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. "The Lifmunks and the Tanzees we caught on our last outing would make good use of the guns you brought."

I thought about the Lifmunks and Tanzees. The Lifmunks, with their green fur and squirrel-like features, were the size of average-sized dogs. The Tanzees, on the other hand, were monkeys with oversized heads. Both species were incredibly useful. Not only were they good at tending to the crops, but they were just as efficient gatherers and handiworks

I had replaced the less efficient Gumos with them, and the fact that they were capable of using guns made me feel even more satisfied with my decision.

"It's been good to catch up," I said, brushing off my hands after setting the last sandbag in place. "But I should head out and see about capturing some new pals to replace the Lamballs and Chikabis we lost in the raid."

Elena looked up at the sky, her expression thoughtful as she observed the growing darkness. She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I guess you should be able to handle yourself... fine, suit yourself.

I gave her a dour look. "Whose the boss of who, anyway?" I shook my head in exasperation as I turned around and headed toward the newly built gate.

Before I could get too far, Elena called out to me. "Hey, wait! I saw a Tombat prowling around the base at night. You should try to capture it if you can."

I turned back, confused. "What's a Tombat? And what makes it so special?"

Elena grinned, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and mischief. "You'll recognize it when you see it. Imagine a humanoid cat with a big cape floating in the air. It's good in a fight, but it also has a sonar power that would make finding pals and resources easier."

I raised an eyebrow, processing the information. "A humanoid cat with a sonar power called Tombat? Who comes up with this shit?"

Elena laughed, shaking her head. "Who knows? But trust me, a Tombat would be a valuable addition to your roaster. Keep an eye out for it."

"I will," I promised, nodding. "Thanks for the tip."

...

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