"Please destroy the wall. Hurry."
Yoshino Aruven repeated his request. He wondered why the female lieutenant was still not moving.
"Yeah, sure. That is absolutely doable. Would you like me to destroy some other areas as well?"
"If you insist then there are indeed---"
"I'm being sarcastic there you no life!"
Alshura exclaimed. She had even spewed a spark of fire from her mouth. This was quite possible because she was a Fire Mage after all. She continued,
"Do you really think it was that easy to break these walls? Why do you think we keep on moving along the corridors? Because it's hard! That's why! Scratch that, it's absolutely hard!"
"But sure you can right? You're a Tier 3 after all."
"And you just said that Tiers are being suppressed here! Why don't you do it instead?"
In his defense, Yoshino do believe that the female lieutenant do have the capability to destroy the wall. The concrete in that part was also brittle. The damaged part happened during the dungeon boss fight years ago. A powerful attack could allow the wall to finally collapse.
Yoshino explained this circumstance to Alshura. But somehow the female lieutenant was still not convinced.
"Come on now lieutenant. Just focus your energy onto it. You can do anything if you believe. And don't forget, put your back onto it. Come on, I'll cheer for you."
"Then why don't you do it then?"
The female lieutenant was still reluctant. Yoshino tried to persuade her,
"Please, time is running out. We have to---"
"Lieutenant Alshura, I am here to help! The Captain ordered me to follow you!"
Damn it. Yoshino cursed in mind. They did ran out of time. He turned towards the entrance of the clearing. Hoping that his fears were wrong.
The one who emerged from the entrance of the clearing was Officer Klein. Alshura was about to walk towards him. But Yoshino stopped her. He said,
"So it really was you."
"Me? What are you talking about?"
"Yes, what are you talking about?"
Officer Klein tilted his head in confusion. Even Alshura expressed her puzzlement. Yoshino glared at the newly arrived officer. He said,
"Why did you think your Captain chose you as his pair? Because he was the most suspicious of you!"
"!"
Alshura was surprised upon hearing this. But the officer in question calmly replied,
"Isn't it because I'm just a Tier 1? That way he can focus on maintaining the blazing wall while watching me."
"Really now? Then can you please explain how you reached this clearing?"
Yoshino was only able to reach the dungeon boss room because he was familiar with which path to take. In addition, Alshura was protecting him. So how could a single Tier 1 who mainly focused on surveillance do the same at almost the same pace?
"… Nah, enough with this charades. I was able to track you because the monsters you killed told me where you went. Their memories to be precise."
Officer Klein was smirking. He seemed to have decided to drop all pretenses. He was now approaching Yoshino and Alshura in a nonchalant pace. No doubt, he really was the enemy!
"So how did you figure it out?"
Klein asked. Yoshino had no plans to explain things any further. But he then felt the urge to divulge everything he knew.
What was happening here? Could it be that he was already under the influence of the enemy's skill effect?
In the end, Yoshino was compelled to answer,
"Your Captain had already mentioned that there were secret arts that could conceal the true Tier of an individual. Surprisingly he was correct with the idea. Although he pointed at the wrong Tier 1 that time."
Yoshino tried to resist the urge. Yet he continued,
"Now that I think about it, I met a peak Tier 1 blockading a street towards the dungeon entrance. How come he stayed outside while you can come along inside?"
"Because of my impeccable surveillance skills?"
Klein smiled confidently. He stopped his steps. He was now 2 meters away from them. He then compelled Yoshino to resume his explanation.
"Yes. Too impeccable that is. Every time you announce the arrival of monsters, they do approach. It was too accurate that even the two Tier 2 Scouts in your platoon were put to shame."
Scout was the class that focused on the Agility parameter. Agility pertains to the movement speed and evasion of an individual. However if developed together with the Dexterity parameter, an individual could then enhance his accuracy and detection.
In other words, popular builds for Scouts would have perception that would only be second to surveillance specialists. Heck, most of surveillance specialists were Scouts.
And yet two Tier 2 Scouts were outperformed by Klein. Even if the Tier suppression of the dungeon was active, they should have at least been able to keep up.
Yoshino tried his best to resist. But to no avail. He continued his explanation,
"The most probable possibility is that those 'reports' you were saying were actually commands! Orders that you give to the controlled monsters!"
"Enough with your revelations! Where is the Captain? What happened to the platoon?"
Alshura demanded an explanation. But what if she was also under the effect of Klein's skill? Perhaps this was just his orchestration?
Still Klein answered,
"Platoon? Haha, there is no longer a platoon! I killed them all! Every one of them!"
He said mockingly. His grin seemed to reach from ear to ear.
"Lies!"
Alshura denied what she heard. She was then covered in flames. She was about to rush towards the enemy.
Yoshino tried to stop her,
"Lieutenant Alshura. Please calm down. Focus on---"
"Shut up! Don't you dare order me around!"
"That's right, shut up."
Alshura snapped at him while Klein ordered him to be silent. He literally 'ordered' this because his words seemed to carry a heavy burden.
Yoshino was unable to speak. He felt like his neck is being squeezed.
"While at it, why don't you choke to death too."
Yoshino's right hand grabbed his throat. He dropped on his knees hoping that the impact could somewhat dispel the order. His grip tightened instead.
Yoshino was confused. How was this possible? This Klein could actually do this? Why had he not done so from the start?
He wanted to voice out this questions. But he was unable to speak.
Klein seemed to be aware of his questions. Perhaps as a sign of pity he explained,
"It takes a while, but once you are exposed enough, I can order you to do such things."
Yoshino felt at loss. He wondered how the enemy knew of what he wanted to ask. Perhaps he could reads minds?
Yoshino decide to focus on a single thought:
Since when?
"Since I saw you at the intersection."
Intersection?
The room with four corridors? Are you telling me he followed me towards the dead-end? Towards that place?
"Yes. I don't know what you were planning to do. But I decided to disrupt your [Scanner]. It was funny, seeing you fall in despair like that. Hahaha, so funny!"
This confirmed his suspicions. He was just hoping that Klein had only left some kind of prolonged skill effect back at the dead-end. But the worst had happened, he was there! Klein had followed him there!
"Quite admirable of you to avoid on thinking of something. But it is useless. I can pry to your deepest thoughts now."
Damn it. Another suspicion was confirmed:
He can read minds!
"You bet I can!"
Klein laughed. He then revoked his order of making Yoshino choke himself. This enabled him to catch his held breath. But things had only become more dire.
He can now learn what that place is for.
I can no longer resist his orders.
He is definitely a Tier 3.
There were no doubts anymore. The level of skill control needed to have effects that was this potent surely belonged to the Advanced-Tier.
The fate of the platoon was also undeniable now.
Utter defeat.
Yoshino felt bitter. But he had no more options other than to accept this result.
"No Life! What are you doing? Break those seals already and save yourself!"
Alshura yelled. Despite her harsh words, the female lieutenant seemed to be concerned. Yoshino began to consider other possibilities.
However Klein answered for him,
"He will not break those staves."
"Because you say so?"
"No. He really does not want to. Not until… huh? He reaches what is behind that wall?... really?"
Klein seemed to be surprised with what he was learning. He began to laugh,
"Hahahaha, hahahahaha! Are you for real?! You're saying that THAT is behind that wall?"
Alshura seemed puzzled to what she was hearing. She asked,
"What are you talking about?"
"None of your concern. Just break the wall."
"That… that will be difficult."
"I know. With the energy you will be using to break it. You will no longer have any strengths to resist me afterwards."
"!"
"Follow your orders."
"..Ro…ro..roger."
Alshura began to accumulate flames around her.