Ch 105

"We do not create soldiers or warriors. Rather, we create combat machines, so to speak, bio-combat weapons. We refer to this as the Kratos Project."

- Excerpt from the Central Government's Archives [A Scientist's Notes] -

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17:30.

"...It's good that we somehow made it back, but... is it going to end here?"

"...It won't end."

In the temporary sky—the Eternal Sky, dyed in the colors of the evening, at the forward operating base. As the group of Counters descended from the elevator, led by Moore toward the headquarters building, Anis and Lapi, walking side by side, exchanged words.

"They'll probably try to secure Marian with some other means."

Lapi, the leader of the squad, murmured with a sigh, and Anis took off her beret, ruffling her chestnut hair with rough gestures.

"Hmm... So, what should we do?"

"---Give up or defend to the end. It's one of the two."

In this situation, Neon asked Rapi with a slight hope if there wasn't a more reasonable solution, but her answer was nothing but extreme.

"'To the end' means 'until death,' right?"

"Yes. They won't give up."

"Even with the support of the Vice Commander on our side?"

"The opponent also has a Vice Commander, an equal adversary. If one side is determined and pushes forward, unless force is used, it cannot be stopped. ---And there should be limits to the level of that force."

Without a headset, Moore, who could clearly hear their conversation, took out a soft pack from his pocket. Its contents—this would be the last one.

He brought the soft pack to his dry lips, lit it with an oil lighter, crushed the empty pack in his hand, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"...More than anything, it seems like there's consensus, except for a very small part. ---Let's open Marian."

"Troublesome, isn't it?"

He, with deep brown eyes, narrowed, exhaled a thin stream of purple smoke. It was as if---a sigh.

Moore's gaze passed through the unmanned guard post, directed toward the shoulder of the road covered with red catalyst where he stopped. There, as he stood, still holding the cigarette in his mouth, the backpack on his back was lightly tapped, and then his left hand was wrapped by a slender hand.

"Commander, let's go."

"Commander."

Prompted by Rapi, Marian awkwardly smiled, and he nodded slightly. However, his steps toward the headquarters building were heavy.

The aftermath, where the stench of gunpowder, spilled blood, and the lingering scent seemed to linger, spread in the parking lot in front of the headquarters building.

Due to the explosion of grenades, fragments and shockwaves scattered, breaking several window glasses of the headquarters building, and sharp pieces stuck in the walls were noticeable.

Next, Moore's gaze was directed to the second floor. It seemed that all the windows of the commander's office had blown out from the inside. The identity of the scattered glass fragments on the road was likely just that. The question remained as to who had intruded without permission.

His eyebrows furrowed even more, but leaving that aside---

"...Elysion's?"

He was curious about the familiar luxury car parked in a corner of the parking lot.

Upon entering the headquarters building, the interior was also in disarray. That was to be expected.

On the first floor—especially between the stairs and the main entrance lobby, intense gunfire and grenade explosions, along with the help of the blast, had severely damaged the walls everywhere, and large-caliber, thick cartridges were scattered on the floor.

Moore thought about how to repair this, but he tilted his head when he noticed muddy footprints left on the floor. And it wasn't just one or two.

They were not the boots issued to soldiers. He quickly realized that from the footprints heading towards the staircase leading to the second floor.

Click, the safety of the assault rifle he carried was released. Tossing the cigarette into a portable ashtray, he shouldered the assault rifle to his right shoulder and cleared while heading to the second floor.

Ascending the stairs and reaching the corridor, there was immediately the door to the commander's office---

"...Did someone spill paint or something?"

The entire wall in front of the commander's office is dyed with a dark red-black color of blood.

It was evident that something resembling flesh was also stuck to it, but it seemed that, by some stroke of luck, the booby trap had worked as intended.

Nevertheless, caution could not be relaxed. Lapi, who had approached from behind Moore, also with an assault rifle at the ready, lightly tapped his shoulder to signal that preparations were complete.

As a sign, he moved to the side of the well-ventilated commander's office door like a cutting pie, processing blind spots, and soon entered the room.

"Excuse me."

"No, don't mind me. I'm in the way."

The interior was also in a terrible state. A high-performance explosive C-5, enough to blow up an entire passenger bus, had been set up. The shockwave from the internal explosion easily shattered the window glass, and it was natural for all the furnishings inside to be either partially or completely destroyed.

Seeing Ingrid sitting on a somewhat damaged sofa, Moore lowered his gun.

"Instructor?"

"Oh, President! Long time no see!"

"Since when have you been here?"

"About two hours ago. I heard that this place was attacked by Heavenly Ascension ."

Heavenly Ascension—an armed terrorist organization operating on the outer rim of Ark. They have been responsible for major terrorist incidents such as the AFX train bombing. The organization advocates for the protection of human rights for those living in the outer rim without recognition chips, the autonomy of the outer rim, and permission to enter and exit Ark.

In any case, it's an organization unrelated to Moore, but when he questioned why such an organization attacked a military facility like the forward operating base, a question mark arose. However, when he thought of one possibility, he shifted his gaze to Marian standing behind Anis and Neon.

"Marian was the target?"

"You Understand quickly, that helps. Well, by the time I led the unit here, she was mostly dead."

At that point, Ingrid pointed to the wall in front of the commander's office. It was easy to imagine that it had been slammed into the wall at the same time as the booby trap exploded.

"Why would an organization like Heavenly Ascension target Marian? Wasn't the information confidential?"

"Marian's existence is already known within Ark. Of course, only a select few know about her... Starting from the Central Government, everyone recognizes her existence and is targeting her."

One trouble after another. Perhaps that's what this means.

With the safety mechanism engaged on his assault rifle, Moore headed to a corner of his room that he knew well. Although the closet was deformed by the explosion, the door somehow opened. However, the butterfly plate broke when it opened, and Moore, exhaling a sigh, threw the door onto the floor.

"It can only be considered that someone intentionally leaked information. Whoever that is, as long as Marian is secured, there is no one else who can forcefully take her away."

"...The only person who might choose such an extreme method is Vice Commander Burningham."

As Rapi asked for confirmation, Ingrid, seemingly at a loss for an answer, turned her gaze away from her and directed it to Moore, who was rummaging through the contents of the closet.

"No comment."

"Understood. Thank you."

That answer alone was more than enough. While thanks were offered to Rapi, Ingrid, after lowering her eyes slightly, once again turned her gaze to Moore.

It seemed that Moore had been rummaging through the closet to retrieve the cigarettes he had stored. Grabbing a soft pack of a size that fit into his hand, he removed the cellophane and foil, lightly tapped the tip of the cigarette with his fingertips to make it pop out, and the female warrior spoke to him.

"Captain Moore. It might not be my place to say this, considering that I'm the one who handed Marian over to you... but considering the current situation, it might be impossible."

"---Impossible, you say?"

He, who had lit the end of the cigarette clenched in his mouth with an oil lighter, asked back. Ingrid furrowed her brow as if saying he would understand without words. Was she asking him to explain that from his own mouth, or was the Iron Woman hesitant to say it herself? She closed her eyelids for a brief moment.

"...From now on, regardless of time and place, a large number of people will attack you. Ark wants Marian. Anderson and I will help, but... dealing with the entire Ark is impossible."

And above all didn't explicitly state that the justification is on the other side. She wasn't that harsh of a person, and she didn't have that kind of character.

"...In other words... are you saying that I should hand over Marian because I brokered it?"

His right hand extended to the leg holster wrapped around his right leg. Seeing that, Ingrid realized that her indirect expression was inappropriate in this situation.

"---No, not in that sense. Find a way."

"Isn't that too irresponsible?"

Anis interjected, prompting the female warrior to remain silent. Nevertheless, there was no other response to this except to reply as follows.

"...Because I believe in you. You've solved every problem that has come your way until now. I believe you can do it again this time."

Suddenly, a faint vibration echoed in the room. It was from Ingrid's pocket. As the female warrior rummaged through her chest, retrieved her mobile device, glanced at the displayed recipient, and tapped to answer the call, a familiar voice reached her ear.

"...Yeah, it's me. ...I'm at the forward operating base. Is Captain Moore there? ...Got it. ---Captain, it's for you. From Anderson."

It wasn't someone who required delicate consideration to the extent of putting the call on hold. Ingrid, sitting on the large leaning sofa, offered her mobile device to Moore.

As he approached with the cigarette still in his mouth and received it, he addressed it to his right ear.

"---Yes."

〈---It's me. I tried calling your number, but you didn't answer, so I thought I'd try calling Ingrid.〉

Moore finally took out his own mobile device, ignoring Anderson's nervous tone on the other end of the line. ---Indeed, there were several missed calls from Anderson.

"...I'm sorry. I didn't notice."

〈---No, that's okay. ...If I understand your state of mind, it's reasonable not to notice.〉

"...So, what's the matter?"

After pocketing his own mobile device, he directed his gaze to the floor and searched for an ashtray. It was a simple stainless steel tabletop ashtray.

〈---...It's about Burningham. ...He doesn't seem to give up. He's willing to use every means at his disposal to open Marian. He said he won't give up even if he's beaten or threatened with a gun.〉

"...I may have underestimated Lord Burningham a bit. He's quite a resilient person. Heh, Someone I could admire."

〈---...It seems so.〉

Finally finding it, the ashtray had fallen by the wall by the window. Despite scattered cigarette butts, he picked up the ashtray without concern, placed it on the windowsill, and knocked off the accumulated ash.

〈---...I also want to support you as much as possible, but...〉

"...I appreciate your concern, but his lordship can't move too openly. If it becomes too conspicuous, it will also have a negative impact on him."

Speaking with a matter-of-fact tone over the phone, Moore sensed a small sigh leaking through. He perceived it as an affirmative response.

To handle the aftermath and to ensure that Anderson's own evaluation from higher-ups is not lowered too much, it would be necessary to ask him to extinguish the fire and clean up. He also needed him to write the script for the cover story regarding the likely upcoming dire situation.

〈---...Is there anything you wish for?〉

"...A few things."

〈---Tell me.〉

Prompted, he listed several requests to Anderson.

Firstly, he requested a proclamation of the principle to suspend the operation of the elevator from Ark to the forward operating base.

"...If someone ignores that principle and comes up anyway---that's the second one."

The second request was to thoroughly recognize it as terrorism or desertion, regardless of affiliation, for those who invade the forward operating base.

"...Third is about the sky, the Eternal Sky."

From the time of today's sunset, he requested that the inside of the forward operating base remain as it is, just like the night until he makes the request.

"...And the fourth one."

The last request was regarding Burningum through Anderson. It was okay for them to attack, but he wanted to exclude individuals who are married or have lovers. Of course, this exception wouldn't apply if they volunteered.

"...That's all."

〈---I'll convey that. I don't know if he'll listen, but...〉

"...That's fine. ---By the way, please convey this as well. We only have one actual combat force. Come at us with all your might."

〈---...What are you planning? Can I ask?〉

"...Isn't it obvious?."

When asked, Moore crushed the shortened cigarette into the ashtray and declared while exhaling the remaining purple smoke from his lungs.

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"---It's war."

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23:45.

〈---Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah!! GAAAAAHHHHHHH!!?〉

The sound of a young soldier's desperate plea for help, engulfed in flames as vaporized fuel transformed into a blaze, shook the commander's office.

Eventually, the soldier's trachea was incinerated, consciousness extinguished, and the weight of an old tire hung around his neck like a necklace causing his upper body to fold.

He would continue to be burned until he turned black.

Burningum, showing the scene through a mobile device propped against the lifeless body of the sergeant killed by a shot to the back of the head, couldn't avert his gaze, such was the overwhelming shock.

Even Papillon, the adjutant applying an ice pack to his swollen face, had a tense expression.

〈---Lord Burningum, it would be troubling if you couldn't keep the promise. I believe Lord Anderson has contacted you.〉

The grim situation unfolded on the screen. A calm and low voice spoke dispassionately. Suddenly, the screen shook. A large hole appeared centered on the forehead, and the face of the sergeant, eyes wide open, who had just passed away, spread across the LCD screen of Birmingham's mobile device.

〈---Corporal Johnson, wasn't it? Do you intend to explain to the newly widowed wife? Will you write a letter of condolence stating that he died in combat with terrorists?〉

Moore's voice, not showing his face on the screen, asked calmly. Even though Burningum tried to find appropriate words, his swollen lips trembled, rendering him useless.

〈---Next, send not a squad but a platoon. You can even send armored vehicles if you want. ---This doesn't qualify as a war. It's unsatisfying.〉

"---A-Are you serious...!? Are you seriously...!?"

〈---Of course. I won't give up until the very end. Lord Burningum, please have an enjoyable night. It seems mine will be quite enjoyable too.〉

With a click, the screen of the mobile device turned black, and Birmingham's face reflected in the LCD.

Sweat appeared not only on his forehead but across his entire face---it wasn't because of the heat.