5.8 - The Luck Factor

XO Office, FOC South 860

1526, 15 Jul 2025

With great interest, Vex studied intel and photos of a small field, oddly located in the middle of a Liqua Guard installation.

According to the intel obtained by IDG, previously all these installations were Nouel fields. But nine months ago Liqua Guard suddenly turned it into a cavalry training area and ignored any objections.

IDG concluded, most likely this was done to hide the fact that the field could no longer be planted.

Major Maxwell calmly added.

"Poseidon took this photo a few minutes ago. It is estimated that the age of the field is only a few days, and ADG personnel confirms that the rejuvenation techniques used by workers in this field match those of ADG."

Major Maxwell then turned his head towards Vex before continuing

"I suggest we send an element to find out the hostage locations from the officers at this installation, while TF Pollux personnel are ready to move towards the hostage locations."

Vex firmly answered.

"Negative, until we get to the exact location of the hostages. We will not take any action that can alert the kidnappers and put the hostages at risk. For now we will just observe and trace."

Major Maxwell looked utterly disappointed, and he took a deep breath before speaking.

"At this point, the hostages are likely still alive, but you must be aware that once the hostages get what they want, they will erase all evidence and traces."

Vex massaged his forehead before saying.

"Therefore we must hurry."

 - - - - -

The front yard of Villa Hagel.

0730, 18 Jul 2025

Lassac stood pensively before a collection of lilies that formed a '505' pattern. As the first son in the military family, from an early age he underwent military training without having time to pay attention to anything else.

Nor did he have time to understand why the farmers in the Liqua Region took care of the crops in their fields as their own children. Although, in fact he was very curious about it.

Lassac's father was very good at growing lilies. Because he likes to use these flower stalks to sharpen his sword slashes.

Lassac also has the habit of using lily stalks to hone his cutting skills.

A single lily can be used for slashing practice up to six or eight slashes, and each day Lassac will need 50-60 lily stalks before he can make a perfect slash. While his father simply used a single lily stalk to produce a perfect slash.

At this moment, with an expression that was hard to describe, Lassac looked at the lily before him. The father who used to accompany him to practice has left this world. He died while organizing Liqua Guard's retreat from the front yard of Magwurt City.

But somehow, now Lassac understood why the farmers were so concerned about the crops on their fields. From the plump and radiant school of lilies before him, Lassac could feel the dedication, care, affection, and somehow the hope that Amethyst Merchant worker poured out over the lily.

'No wonder they managed to repair the damaged fields.'

Lassac took a deep breath of the morning air while a speck of regret rose in his heart.

'If from the very beginning the aristocrats and high-ranking officials in Liqua Region were willing to invest time and resources in understanding the farming techniques and the farmer's hearts, then perhaps we could have avoided such severe damage to the fields."

At the same time Lassac heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Not long after that, Peggie and an Amethyst Merchant worker walked past his side by carrying two buckets of water.

Each morning, before they went to work on the test plots, Peggie and her colleagues would take turns to care for their beloved lilies, and whether coincidence or not this morning it was Peggie's turn so Lassac could immediately deliver the words he wanted to say to her.

"I'll be gone for two days, but you don't need to worry because my right hand will make sure no one touches you while I'm not around."

Still in a calm tone, Lassac added.

"After you have perfected the technique for repairing damaged fields, I will escort you back to Tuscan Region, as well as surrender and receive the punishment for killing two Amethyst Merchant members in Berril Plains."

Over the past week, there has been a drastic change in Lassac's tone and expression as he spoke to Peggie and her colleagues. There is no more open hatred.

Even so, Peggie still refused to accept the good intentions shown by Lassac. Two of her colleagues died while the other three were gang-raped. Peggie will never forgive that.

Of course, that doesn't mean Peggie will just show her heart out.

"Understood."

Peggie replied curtly before starting to weed the grass around the lilies which had become a ray of hope for her and her colleagues.

At the same time Lassac smiled a little before leaving. One thing he didn't tell Peggie was, last night he received an order from Baron Eslei to erase all evidence that could lead to the incident on Berril Plains.

Baron Eslei has a feeling that Amethyst Merchant is watching him closely. He also hears from the nobles who returned from Magwurt City, that Amethyst Merchant is incessantly searching for their five kidnapped workers, and vows to roast the culprit alive. There were even rumors that they would burn the entire territory of the Northern Coalition along with all its inhabitants.

Previously, Lassac without hesitation poisoned all the Riders and Cloud Hawks involved in the operation on Berril Plains, as soon as the captured Amethyst Merchant workers arrived at the transit point.

Lassac will also not hesitate to kill 60 of his subordinates in Villa Hagel.  But somehow, he became hesitant when he received orders to execute the five Amethyst Merchant workers who had helped him understand the values ​​in the art of farming.

Therefore, Lassac intends to meet Baron Eslei to submit a proposal. He will escort the five Amethyst Merchant workers back to Tuscan Region, and at the same time take full responsibility for the incident on Berril Plains without involving Baron Eslei or the Liqua Region.

'I saved Baron Eslei once, so he will definitely listen to my proposal.'

Lassac muttered to himself as he steadily walked toward the stable.

 - - - - -

The airspace at the western end of Liqua Region.

1943, 18 Jul 2025

Inside the cabin of P-8 Poseidon with the callsign Sleepy Panda, while narrowing his eyes Major Howard studied a collection of lilies forming a pattern of '505'. The group of lilies was accidentally caught by the EO operator while he was observing a villa in the middle of an abandoned field.

Believe it or not, be it in a military operation, an intelligence operation, and even more in a hostage rescue operation, luck has an enormous role to play.

For example, in Operation Magic Fire which was executed by GSG-9. Most people only know that the operation was one of the most successful hostage rescue operations. However, the leader of the HRT Team later said publicly that the raid was not as glamour as the media had heralded.

After the HRT team managed to enter using dynamic entry, somehow the Jam or the situation where the HRT Team movement stopped occurred, and the versus-contact with the bandits dragged on. The Jam gives the bandits enough time to throw a grenade, and not just one but two.

It is no secret that fire, explosives, and of course grenades are not a suitable combination when paired with an airplane with a fairly full tank. Fortunately, both grenades all fell into positions where the explosion was completely absorbed by the empty passenger seat. If not, then one cannot imagine what disaster will occur.

Another example of the role of luck in an intelligence operation is what happened to Mossad when they tried to identify the key figure inside Baader Meinhof. The neatness in operation as well as the dedication and loyalty of Baader Meinhof members, made the efforts of Mossad and the intelligence services of western countries over the years to bear no result.

And when Mossad was almost giving up, in one of the Israeli embassies suddenly arrived by a guest who claimed to be holding a key position in Baader Meinhof.  The guest intends to surrender because, in the will of his adoptive parents, it is told that he is actually the son of a Jewish couple who was the victim of Nazi atrocities.

Not long after that, Baader Meinhof disappeared until it was not left a trace while the world was amazed by the ability of Mossad agents to infiltrate Baader Meinhof, and no less than a dozen books discussed this.

In a search operation against two ADG personnel and three Amethyst Merchant workers, a standoff occurred for days even though motives and suspects had been obtained. Also, the ground team assigned to intensively observe Baron Eslei also did not receive any meaningful clues other than confirmation that Baron Eslei faked his illness.

Therefore Major Howard never underestimated the importance of luck for a second, and after heaving a sigh of relief he said.

"Finally luck has come to us."

Pointing to a location next to the villa, Major Howard continued.

"These little plots look like they're testing grounds."

The Intel analyst beside Major Howard nodded slightly before adding.

"We think weasels fly west as far as possible as part of a misdirection tactic, plus we find new fields in a Liqua Guard installation on the eastern side of the Region. But who would have thought our target was really in the west."

Without wasting any time Major Howard gave instructions.

"Send this intel to South 860 right now."

*****