"Ah--"
"What?"
The two men blurted out simultaneously, becoming petrified on their feet at their unexpected meeting. They didn't make a single move, not even batted an eyelid, for a few seconds.
Aectaeon suddenly felt a cramp arising in his right leg. At first, he tried to grit his teeth in order to remain stable. However, a jolting sensation assaulted him next, making him groan.
And that broke the silence between him and his lonely onlooker.
He diverted his eyes to the floor, began stomping his feet to ward off the cramp, and whispered, "Stupid! Stupid cramp! What great timing!"
Shortly thereafter, Aectaeon's leg went back to normal. He then felt someone staring at him, as if they were throwing pins and needles only through their gaze. Aecaeon slowly turned his head and met the eyes of the soldier once more.
"H-- hello?" Aectaeon said, consequently forcing a smile on his pallid countenance.
Aectaeon was sweating heavily to no end. Perhaps he was nervous. Perhaps it was just the weather. He had no desire to find out the reason.
While waiting for the soldier's response, Aectaeon quickly gave a glance at the item where the arrow was pointed at.
'Another tarot card? Ha-- This more stupid than the cramp. What should I do next? Collect all the tarot cards and become the best diviner? I swear I've seen a plot like this.'
Although he wanted to ridicule the system even more than he already did, Aectaeon was aware that his grievances wouldn't bear any fruit for him to digest. It would only leave a bad taste in his mouth.
On the other hand, the stranger of a soldier followed Aectaeon's gaze. He was curious about what caught the interest of the invader of his room.
"A card? Why is a card in my room? I don't own any playing cards."
The voice pulled Aectaeon back to reality. He looked at the soldier, his eyebrows knitted to display his confusion.
"My room? This is your room?" Aectaeon asked as he started to detach the rope and the belt.
"Yes, this is my room." The soldier then took a step forward, "In the first place, why should I be the one answering questions? You're the one who entered someone else's room without permission, through the window to boot."
Despite the fact that he was being castigated, Aectaeon was thankful that the soldier didn't raise his voice.
"I'm sorry. Ah… Uhh… Can I--"
"Can you what? Are you telling me to just let you go? Even though we're both privates, that doesn't mean that I can simply let something like this pass."
"Wait, wait, please, I can expl--"
"Explain what? Explain that you trespassed into my room because you have a good, world-changing justification? That I should cooperate so you will be able to accomplish your mission?"
Aectaeon couldn't say a word of retort. He merely stared at the soldier, his eyes wide open. He was like an explorer eyeing a species that was supposed to have been declared extinct.
Ensuing a brief moment of quietude, Aectaeon began to snicker. He hurriedly covered his mouth once he noticed that the soldier was glaring at him. He was able to stop snickering right away, calming himself by controlling his breathing.
Fanning himself with his hand, Aectaeon spoke, "Whoo! I'm sorry for my rudeness. Again, I want to sa--"
"Sorry? What sorry? Are you really sorry for what you said?"
"Isn't that why I'm saying sorry?"
"Like I'll believe you, Trespasser."
"I-- uh, yes, trespasser here." Aectaeon then bowed his head, "I'll apologize properly, alright? I'll even compensate you for the trouble I've caused. I meant no harm. I promise."
Afterward, Aectaeon proceeded to raise both of his hands in the air. It was the simplest way he could think of to show that he wasn't planning on attacking the soldier in front of him.
It goes without saying that the soldier wasn't the least bit convinced by his act at all. Rather than pardoning Aectaeon, the soldier just stepped forward and closed the door behind him.
"Before anything else, state your name and your division."
Aectaeon wondered what he should say.
The main reason why he stole the uniform of a soldier was to hide his tracks from the surveillance of the Commander. One witness statement could make or break his success. He began grinding his teeth as he looked at the Time Limit panel.
"I… I am… uh, can't you just read my name tag?"
Truthfully speaking, Aectaeon had already forgotten the name of the uniform's owner. And he didn't want to look suspicious by checking the name tag.
"I can read the name tag. But that's not your uniform isn't it?"
"Yes?"
"That uniform, it doesn't fit you. Our new uniforms and equipment were distributed a week ago. With that in mind, you shouldn't be walking around wearing a uniform with that tight of a fit. Also,"
The soldier approached Aectaeon, stopping a meter away from the man.
"Orcas is an acquaintance of mine. Unless I was informed that he underwent an intense plastic surgery and consumed a sh*t ton of steroids, I wouldn't ever think that you are Orcas."
Aectaeon wasn't sentient on whether to take the soldier's words as insults or compliments. However, one thing was for sure. He was impressed by how thorough the soldier was with his explanations. Just by seeing the two of them, no one would assume that they were having a small confrontation.
Taking that into consideration, Aectaeon made his decision.
"So, are you ready to introduce yourself now?"
Foremost, Aectaeon straightened his posture. He then cleared his throat twice as he adjusted the collar of his uniform.
"First Lieutenant Igor Vali, that's my name."
At that instant, the soldier's body stiffened. He didn't expect that he would meet the most evasive officer within the camp, if not within the entire forces of the Republic.
Igor Vali, the officer that Aectaeon had embodied, was known for not attending any meeting, formation, and drills. The soldiers under his command had only seen him at most twice since the beginning of the year.
There was one more thing he was famous for.
Igor Vali was the sole named spy who was still on active duty.