Reunion and Reunion?

"This should be it," I told the other groupchat members as I looked at the temporary camp set up in the slums by the LGD.

"Let's check the tents," I said as I headed towards the camp.

"Clukay?" As I was about to enter one of the tents, an unfamiliar voice called out from behind. As I turned around, I saw a familiar red-haired Sankta who reminded me of a certain conversation with a taxi driver. Penguin Logistics… Wasn't that the infamous mobster family that loved gang fights?

I won't question why the police were utilising them.

"Ah, you should be Penguin Logistics," I replied as I looked at her and the black-haired wolf behind her.

"Wait, no. Clukay, why didn't you tell me you were in Lungmen?" The red-haired Sankta asked with a little bit too much excitement. Did I have ties with the Mafia prior to my memory loss? This may be troublesome. Hopefully, I don't randomly get jumped when I go outside.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I asked as the other groupchat members chatted with the wolf girl.

"It's me, Lemuel! It's Exusiai now, but don't you remember me?" Exusiai shook me with panic in her voice. The earlier excitement was replaced with anxiety, but unfortunately, I had this troublesome thing called amnesia.

"I recently lost my memories. I'm sorry, but I don't remember you." I replied with dismay. It is pitiful to have a friend tell you that they don't remember you, but there was nothing I could do about it.

"If we have time after this, we can chat. But let's get on with the mission," I said with a wry smile as I walked towards the other. Exusiai remained quiet for a moment, but she followed along soon after.

"After this mission, let's catch up. Hopefully, Mostima will also appear," Exusiai said with melancholy. I gave a slight nod and pulled out the papers Hoshiguma gave Zhongli yesterday.

"According to the plan, we're tasked with following Reunion members to find their base," I stated as I laid out a map of Lungmen and the area that surrounded it.

"We'll all go in squads of two since there are six of us. One team in each direction. Once you've found the location of Reunion's base, signal it using the LGD's radio." I said.

Everyone nodded in agreement with the plan. It's not like they were in any position to decline the plan from the LGD.

"Alright, time to split up the teams. Rimuru and Jinwoo, Zhongli and-" As I randomly assigned everyone a partner, a red-haired Sankta interrupted me.

"Can I be with you?" Exusiai asked. I nodded as I wanted to extract some information from my past.

"Alright, let's head out," I said as I folded up the map and picked up my gun. The faster we do this, the better.

As everyone headed to their assigned positions after they finished preparations. Me and Exusiai were the last to leave since we had to wait for ammunition. After we left the base, we leapt past the rooftops of the slums with only silence between the two of us.

It didn't take long before I came to a stop as a squad of Reunion soldiers was spotted in the distance. They were attacking a slum dweller, but we weren't in the position to intervene. We only sat on the roof and waited for them to move on.

The long silence since the start of the mission was finally broken by Exusiai as we relaxed on some wooden crates.

"Hey, do you really not remember anything about our time in school?" Exusiai asked with a tone of sadness that contradicted her overall energetic vibe.

"Nope," I replied as I took a sip of water from a bottle I brought along.

"Not even all the times we bombed the school?" Exusiai asked with a smile. I looked at her in confusion. Did I mishear her, or did she just say that I partook in multiple bombings at school with her? (A/N: This is actually canonical, check Archetto's voice lines)

"After this, I'm definitely calling Mostima. We'll have a reunion party with apple pie!" Exusiai shouted. I quickly moved to shut her mouth as I checked the Reunion members, who luckily didn't notice us yet.

I don't know who Mostima was either, but from how Exusiai talked about her, we should also be friends. As we continued waiting for the Reunion members to make a move from the area, Exusiai talked endlessly about our past experiences. Although insightful, she had a little too much energy.

"Ah, they finally made a move," Exusiai said as I woke up from my daze.

"Let's go," I said as we followed the Reunion members through the rooftops.

After a few hours, we made it outside of Lungmen and inside what seemed to be a quarry. We made ourselves comfortable behind some rocks, and Exusiai pulled out her binoculars whilst I attempted to contact the other with the radio.

"This is Clukay one; we've identified their base. It's a quarry down south."

"Roger," A voice replied over the radio.

"We're headed there right now!" Another voice replied.

"Uh… Clukay, I think they've discovered us," Exusiai whispered with an uncertain tone. I looked up and saw Exusiai with half of her body slumped over a rock. The reason why they found us seemed obvious.

"Contact the LGD. I'll go ahead and hold them off. Catch up with me once you're done," I said as I picked up my gun and rushed downhill.

"Alright, one apple pie order coming right up!" Exusiai excitedly shouted behind me.

Although there were quite a few Reunion soldiers, it was nothing compared to yesterday's skirmish. Luckily, it didn't take long for the other scout teams to arrive. After a few minutes, the Reunion soldiers retreated as the LGD and Rhode Island forces rushed in.

"Damn, that was quite fast," I muttered as I looked at the battalion size quantity of troops gathered. I turned my attention to the lineup of important figures looking at the quarry terrain before us.

"The terrain is perfect for a trap," Ch'en noted as she looked at the dusty valley ahead.

"Oh man, the wind is strong here, and our vision is lousy." One of the officer ladies, Franka, sighed. I learned their names yesterday after the battle; the other one was called Liskarm.

"It'll be no problem. They're just a group of ragtag terrorists, barely held together." Ch'en said with her hand on her hip, "we'll take them out in one swift strike."

"Hoshiguma and part of the Special Inspect Unit will stay here, don't let anyone through." Ch'en sternly said.

"Roger," Hoshiguma replied.

"Don't give them any chance to organise, whittle down their numbers and remember; our objective is to rescue Misha," Amiya added. Divide and conquer, I remembered this strategy from somewhere, but it was quite famed from what little I could remember.

"Basically, don't go overboard, Monster Inspector." Franka translated.

"Hmph, I know," Ch'en said as she walked away to organise the LGD.

Everyone else left to reorganise, but the Dokutah and Amiya continued to stare at the valley. Perhaps I should let them be.

"They're here," The Dokutah suddenly murmured as I was about to leave to get a snack. Much like the quick response of the LGD and Rhode Island, Reunion was already here with reinforcements.

"I'll save the snacks for later I guess," I muttered with dissatisfaction as I checked the remaining magazine the LGD gave me. Seven was plenty for a skirmish.