Alshura Soura gathered the flames surrounding her. She was about to unleash a powerful attack!
"Don't forget to put your back onto it, haha."
Officer Klein mocked. His full name was Banjo Klein. Soura was disgusted that her thoughts were forced to remember that.
"[Swords of Flame]: Domei!"
The gathered flames transformed into a huge sword of flame hovering above Soura. Her hands were raised as she was controlling the direction where the sword was pointed.
Go!
Soura threw her hands forward, at the same time the huge flame sword fell towards the wall. Collision was imminent.
BOOM!
An explosion occurred upon impact. The wall then collapsed. Soura fell down her knees. Expending that much MP had almost made her faint. She panted heavily.
Bando Klein walked towards the demolished wall excitedly. He exclaimed,
"It's here! It's really here! Hahahaha!"
"*pant*… why?"
Soura was breathing heavily. But she still wanted to ask that.
Banjo Klein turned towards her. He grinned,
"Why? Oh you mean why am I doing this to you maggots? Well let me think… orders! You moron! I'm obviously following orders here."
"But… you've defected."
Soura was confused. Perhaps she was just being naïve. Hoping that none of these were real. Unfortunately Bando Klein destroyed such delusion,
"Hahahaha, you're so dumb lieutenant! Even that guy you keep calling No Life figured it out! This mission is lie! A trap to silence the Captain and even you! As to why? Well it's because you two shined too brightly. The higher ups wanted to snuff you out!"
Bando Klein laughed as he explained. Soura could still not accept the truth.
She had been born in a community managed by the Trogan Militia. She grew up dreaming of one day joining the Guild. She succeeded in being recruited. She tried her best. She might have failed at times but was that enough for her to be executed?
Was giving your loyalty only lead to being betrayed?
Was the top brass absolutely this heartless?
Bando Klein winced as he stared at Soura. Perhaps he had read her thoughts or something. He said,
"Tch! You're naïveté disgust me. Stay there and do not interfere."
Soura was unable to stand up upon hearing the order. The only thing she could do now was take a glimpse of what was beyond the destroyed wall. To her surprise it was only a dead-end.
"Only a dead-end? Are you kidding me lieutenant? Look closer! The writings on the wall. The symbols which could not be read nor copied! Oh yeah, I guess you're too far to see it."
Bando Klein mocked her further. His voice was full of ridicule. He then called,
"Hey, hey, why don't you tell our dear lieutenant what these writings are, Mister Ruben Kang!"
"…"
Bando Klein laughed as he coaxed the No life. The young man looked like he was still trying to resist the skill. He winced like he had swallowed something bitter.
There is no use, Soura thought. Banjo Klein was also at Tier 3. How could a Basic-Tier defy such orders.
True enough, the no life answered after a few seconds.
"It's the clue.."
"?"
"The clue to find the book of N."
The Book of N!
Soura was surprised. This was the phantasmal item that she had only heard on stories when she was small. The one deemed by the leading powers to be non-existent!
It was just that though. A childhood folklore the pioneering generation told to their children and grandchildren.
Nowadays only those who could not get over the fact that the world was transmigrated believed on this tale. Only silly fools were still searching for it.
And now they were telling that the clue for finding such an item was here? In this shabby dungeon?
Her thoughts were pulled back to the current situation when Bando Klein laughed.
"Hahaha, do you have any idea how much reward I'll receive if I return this to the Militia?"
"Don't you think that would be useless? The Guild has no use for that."
"Are you dumb? Have your brains been fried by your flames? The Militia is an International Power! With so much members do you really think that there are no one who is interested to this treasure? Hahaha, how much of them do you think are at the top even?"
The Trogan Militia was not united. This much was proven by her current situation. In truth no organization of such enormous size was fully united. There would always be various factions within that organization. And each faction would absolutely have their own agenda.
"Well enough chatting. You, come here. Time to 'read' the clue"
No life struggled but he was still compelled to move towards the dead-end.
"You better not think of interrupting this, lieutenant."
Bando Klein reinforced his previous order. Since they both belonged to the same Tier, he would have to focus all his concentration to make Soura kill herself. That kind of focus was not something he could afford to do now. Perhaps he would be dealing with Soura last.
I'm sorry Captain. Everyone.
Soura had experienced the helplessness too. She was convinced that their platoon was no more.
Sadness struck her. All that she could do now was watch the events.
No life approached the dead-end. Bando Klein ridiculed him further,
"You should be glad. All your preparations were not in vain. How long was it again? Two years? Two freaking whole years? Hahaha! At least you will finally be able to read the clue."
"Damn you."
"Hey, hey, do you really think you could talk to me like that?"
"Then how about we make a deal? I'll read the clue for you then you let me go."
Soura could not believe what she was hearing. Why was the no life still struggling? Why was he bargaining? Was this what they call stages of moving on?
But at least he was trying to do something! Unlike Soura who resigned to her fate. But what if she could do more? What if---
Her thought were interrupted when Bando Klein laughed in derision.
"Hahaha, you really think you can bargain here? No deal! You know why? Because I hate you! I hated you from the very first moment that I saw you!"
Bando Klein could no longer hold his emotions. His grim look indicated that he would kill the no life no matter what. He then ordered,
"Use that stupid skill you hunted for two years! Then kill yourself! … Hmmm, but how?... I know! Smash your head on that dead-end. Hahahaha, yes! That would be a fitting end for you!"
Bando Klein then straightened his posture. He seemed to want the declaration of the order to be without fail. He delivered the execution,
"Activate [Scanner] then smash your head on that wall."
Scan!
No life activated his skill.
Soura could not look. How could such a cruel thing happen here. Despite her MP recovering steadily. With her standards as a Tier 3, her recovery rate was faster. But she could not resist the order to not interfere.
Think Soura! At least try to save this one!
She could not help but despair. Why did such No life focus on that analysis-type skill? He should have used a different one!
A different one? Was there even such thing?
A spark of inspiration had struck Soura. She opened her eyes and began to search the surroundings.
That's right! You don't have to interfere in order to interfere!
Soura threw a fireball. It was not in the direction of Bando Klein nor the clue. Technically she was not interfering!
Break!
The sealing stones was destroyed upon the fireball's impact.
Soura believed that whatever was inside those items were still useless. But the No life seemed to insist that they were not.
She could only put her trust on it now.
***
Yoshino Aruven had activated the [Scanner]. He had already accepted the fact that this would be his final skill activation.
Although he already had proven that following the order of Bando Klein had given you willingly would enable your body to offer less resistance to your own thoughts.
For example, the order 'come here' only mentioned of him going towards where Bando Klein. Only 'him'.
All he could do now was believe---
Yoshino forced his thoughts to stop. He must not think of any other things. He decided to focus at the task at hand.
The effect of Scanner resolved. The data entering his mind was overwhelming! He began to process the information.
This...really is the clue!
"Hahahaha! Thank you! Thank you! Now die!"
Bando Klein laughed triumphantly. As expected, he was reading my thoughts.
Nonetheless Yoshino no longer resisted. He positioned himself by placing his hands on the wall. He was about to slam his head on the concrete.
A force that felt like something was being placed on his shoulders. To be precise, as if his soul was trying to pick something up.
This something was the one he was the most familiar of!
Yoshino smiled. There was no longer any need to hesitate. He exclaimed,
"Enchant!"