Chapter 66 - Another Failed Objective

I.E.A. thought they have won the battle at the eastern coasts after E.D.L. ran away from the battlefield. But they soon find that their efforts were all for naught when their retrieval team reported that the Power Source in the Serendipity District is gone.

"...we speculated that E.D.L. must have retrieved the Power Source long ago during the battle." Said the Captain of the team.

All three I.E.A. lieutenant generals appeared to be bothered by this news. And Lt. General David reacted badly the most. "THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS!!" He threw his hat at the Captain of the retrieval team.

"Take it easy David, E.D.L. must have seen this coming after the incident at the Rhombus District." Said Lt. General Erik.

"HOW CAN I!? This is going to piss off Supreme Leader Han Seong-min!... AGAIN!"

Lt. General Joaquin intervened. "Calm yourself, David. Don't take out your frustration on others."

"Tch!! Why must it be us who have to face this shitty news!? If this were to fall in General König's hands, he'd get away scot-free!"

"Don't speak of the General like that! You know he can't always take the blame for every blunder we did!" Lt. General Erik defended.

"Who said this was blunder? Executing repetitive plans makes one predictable. This just simply calls for new approach and strategy." Said lt. General Joaquin, his words helping David calm down for a bit. "T-That may be the case, then the team devising strategies for the military are the ones to blame!"

"...David, we are 'that' team to blame. As heads of the I.E.A. forces sent here in the E.D.L. eastern coast territory, we're the one's that comes up with strategies to win the battle." Erik clarified, stressing David once again. "—AAARGGHH! NO MORE! SAY NO MORE!!"

Then the other Captain of the retrieval team for the war machine jumped in the discussion. "Erm... I apologize for my interruption, but I'm here to make a report about the modified war machine."

"Continue." Joaquin allowed him to speak.

"The modified war machine have cleared the area of any E.D.L. soldier corpses and grew a massive size. And as for my team that has been sent to retrieve the war machine..." Joaquin noticed that Captain seemed to have a troubled expression.

"Yes, has it been retrieved yet?" He asks.

"N-No... I'm afraid not."

This set David into rage. "FIRST SEONG-MIN, NOW RODRICK!?—"

"David, stop. Let him finish." Joaquin uttered.

"I-I apologize!! It's just that the modified war machine is impossible to retrieve!! After my subordinates have come into contact with the war machine, it killed everybody and I barely escaped it!!!"

The unsettling revelation about the war machine shocked everyone within the conference room. Erik and David quickly turns to look at Joaquin. "...hey. Is it even true that the sacrificial plan has been finished by Dr. Rodrick Wolfgang?" Asked Erik with suspecting eyes.

"I knew it was too soon to draw that card!" Added David. "Because of you, we lost Reginald, our most valuable top fighter with the strength of a thousand soldiers!!"

"Hold your tongue David, I haven't even said a word and yet you start to blame me on baseless grounds." Joaquin glares at them. "It's true that Dr. Rodrick completed this sacrificial card plan, so why would he entrust the shifter seed to me in the first place?"

"That's just as baseless! Why would Wolfgang entrust you the shifter seed without our knowledge?! Who gave you the right to use and execute the sacrificial card plan!?—How can you prove your words without anything to support your claim!?" Erik questioned.

The whole room fell in silence but had an air of intense and alarming atmosphere. Lt. General Joaquin sighs and gets up from his seat. "Fine... I'll return to the base alone and report these to the authorities myself if you guys doubt me so much."

"Tch!" David rolls his eyes but felt a sense of relief not having to face the authorities.

"In the meantime, the two of you think of a way to deal with the modified war machine." That was the last thing Joaquin said as he left the place and quickly returns to the I.E.A. base via jet plane.

Lt. General Joaquin's presence was first requested by one of the highest authorities, Dr. Rodrick Wolfgang, to discuss something quite important. Joaquin grins after entering the research facility, knowing that his plan is succeeding.

"Good evening, Sir Rodrick." Joaquin greeted right when he entered the scientist's office. "I've come as you requested."

Dr. Rodrick puts down the documents he was reading and faced him. "...General Raya." He spoke his name. "I suppose you already know why I called you in here."

Though Joaquin pretended to wonder what the scientist was trying to say. "N-No... I have no clue, actually."

And Rodrick's gaze dims at him. "Quit feigning ignorance, Raya!! I know it was you who took the shifter seed, I received report that the sacrificial card plan was executed under your command and that we lost Reginald!!"

Slowly, Joaquin started laughing.

"What the hell are you laughing for!?" Rodrick seethe.

"Ahh, my apologies. I truly can't hide it anymore!" Joaquin hid his face with his hat. "...seeing you mad was getting me excited. Honestly."

"Joaquin Raya... no. There's no way Joaquin would ever be like this... who are you?" Now that Rodrick began to doubt Joaquin's identity, it the reveals itself and transformed its hand as a gun aiming at the scientist. "Perhaps this might answer your question."

"A-A Teutherian!!—" Rodrick was shocked to see something that went extinct from such a long time ago, he raised his arms as Sleek draws closer. "—don't tell me, Joaquin is—"

"I ate him. And yeah, he's dead." Sleek confessed, seemingly pissed.

Rodrick began to regret his decision calling for Joaquin to confront him alone, he never expected this kind of situation to arise."...what do you want? Revenge, is that it?... you want to take revenge for your fallen species?!"

"You've got some nerve speaking like that in front of a weapon pointed at you. Unfortunately, I'm not here for revenge."

"Then what!?"

Sleek lightly taps the tip of its gun on Rodrick's forehead, before asking firmly. "I'm here for my Queen, where is she?"