47 – Waiting Game

Lance sat on the floor, looking at Zach's powered armor that he had just dismantled. The frame is the same as the Lance design, but with small gears in all the joints. Lance believed the purpose of those things was to enhance the mech's agility and maneuverability.

He only found such a system in this armor, and not in the other armors of Zashrend's troops. This means that this armor is special, and perhaps only Zach can control it.

Smelling the aroma of chicken broth, Lance turned his head back. Trish approached him with a steaming bowl.

"You should eat something." The female warrior put the food in front of Lance, then sat next to the engineer. "If you don't want it, I'll stuff it to you."

Lance looked at the soup. The aroma was similar to what his mother used to make. "Thanks."

The female warrior looked at the armor. "Maybe you're frustrated because someone makes armor that's superior to yours. I've felt the same way too."

"Really, huh?" Lance raised an eyebrow. "There is someone stronger than you?"

"Her boobs are much smaller, but her butt is bigger. But yeah, she's better than me. We always boast about the number of monsters we defeat, how strong they are, and the loot we get. Our parties don't care, but she and I are passionate. Maybe too passionate."

"Then how does it go?"

Trish shrugged. "The point is, she always beats me, and I lied several times about my achievements. But in the end, I defeated her. That's when I felt great satisfaction."

Lance took the bowl of soup, devoured it fast, stood up, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Yeah, I'm frustrated that someone could beat me." A wide grin decorated Lance's face. "Yet, I have a desire to surpass this person. I won't lose again. Your words strengthen my resolve, Trish."

The female warrior smiled, got up, and grabbed the engineer's shoulder. "Good, Lance. I will support you. You can do it."

In his previous life, Lance had almost no rivals as a mech designer. Little did he know, a rival could intensify his excitement.

"Excuse me, sir." Nathaniel enters and salutes Trish and Lance. "You asked me to come at this hour, sir?"

"Ah, it's about time, huh?" Lance responded. "Sorry, you have to wait. I want to inspect this armor first."

"No problem, sir."

Trish asked, "Where are you going?"

"To the underground." Lance approached Nathaniel. "Let's go."

***

"Once again, I'm asking you, Cap." While walking to the prison basement, Lance asked Trish's brother. "Are you ready to do this? You can choose not to do it.

Nathaniel glanced at the soldiers who were carrying the corpse covered in white cloth. "It's fine, sir. I felt like I had to do this."

"As you wish."

They went down to the basement and stopped in front of Desmond Woulfe's cell. The former Zashrend commander approached the metal bars with his mouth open. "What the hell is that?"

Lance lifted the blanket on the stretcher a little, revealing someone's face that was already very pale.

"Zach!!!" Desmond tried to reach his son's face, but couldn't.

"We met on the battlefield again. Sorry, but we have to give our best in war." Nathaniel said. "You understand that, right? We can't hold back."

Desmond shed tears. "Oh, my son…"

Lance sat across from the former commander. "You already know what will happen to your family, right? Your evil king will harm them because of your son's failure."

"You won't be able to brainwash me, Celestenian." Desmond hissed.

Lance smiled. "What are you fighting for, sir? For your king? I know the vows of all Zashrend's officials. You work on behalf of your nation. And you know that, right? A nation is nothing without its people."

Desmond's grip on the metal bars tightened.

"Your people suffer because of a mad king. You should help them, not submit to that crazy old man." The engineer continued. "And of course, your family is also in danger, sir. Why do you obey your king? He didn't give you anything, and instead harmed the people closest to you."

"What do you want?" Desmond's mouth trembled. "I couldn't do anything. I was trapped here."

Widening his smile, Lance brought his face closer to the former commander. "Accompany me to meet my king. Tell me all the suffering your people and your families have experienced. That your people are afraid, unable to take action while the Zashrend's military remains under the control of your king. So, what can help your people is external force."

Desmond's chin dropped further. "You want Celestenia to invade Zashrend?"

Lance maintained his smile, not saying anything else. He knew Desmond thought he would just ask for information.

"Sir Desmond." Nathaniel kneeled beside Lance. "I know how important family is. If they are in danger, I will do anything to help them. It's possible that Celestenia's invasion won't help your family. Maybe Zashrend had caught them when they ran away. But if I were you, I would take the slightest opportunity to help my family."

"Nice words, captain." Lance felt that his decision to bring Nathaniel here was the right one.

Instead of responding, Desmond went to bed.

"You have three days, sir." Lance rose to his feet. "After that, I will go to the capital of Celestenia, without you or not. But I really hope you come with us."

The engineer motioned for the soldiers to bring Zach's body back. They then left the place, but Nathaniel was still standing in Desmond's cell.

"Please, sir. Help us. With that, we can help you, your family, and your nation." The captain only followed the others after saying that.

Lance smirked. Desmond's psychological condition has been deteriorating because of the cell's condition. Lance was sure that his and Nathaniel's words had a big impact on the former commander.

"Are you sure that the king will agree, sir?" Nathaniel, walking behind Lance, asked. "This is a big request."

"We can only wait before meeting the king. As you know, this is all a waiting game."