"You said it will last for 10 minutes. But it's just eight minutes."
Lieutenant Alshura complained. Yoshino Aruven replied in defense,
"I said give or take. I can't help it you know."
"But I'm unsatisfied!"
"Well I'm pretty satisfied."
Hold up. That sounded wrong.
They were talking about the estimated time for the disappearance of the dungeon. And lieutenant Alshura was unsatisfied… with the energy she had recovered.
While Yoshino was satisfied… from the information he got by reading the clue again. In fact, he read it for a third and a fourth and a fifth time.
Anyway, they were now teleported back to the dungeon entrance.
Yoshino and Alshura had stopped bickering. They braced themselves on what would happen. They were expecting an ambush from Klein.
Eight minutes would have been plenty enough time to setup a sneak attack. Perhaps he could have controlled the remaining members of the platoon. The ones who were left to maintain a blockade.
Yoshino stepped forward. He decided to exit the dungeon first. But Alshura moved faster. Whether she wanted to protect him or not, Yoshino would never know.
They had now returned to the outside world. In a certain alley at the outskirts of Anira City. An ambush was about to occur.
But there was no such thing.
"What is happening here? No one is waiting for us?"
Yoshino was confused. They were back to the outside world. Yet no ambush of some sort had occurred.
Alshura pondered for a few seconds. She then suggested a possibility,
"Maybe he ran as fast as he could and never looked back?"
"Perhaps?"
Yoshino was considering that too. Klein had also received the clue for the Book of N when read Yoshino's mind. There was a chance that he decided to cut his losses and ran off with the information.
But basing from his arrogant personality, Klein was the type of person who would not let go of a grudge easily. In addition Alshura was also his target. He could not possibly abandon his mission just like that.
"What if---"
Yoshino was cut off when someone called out from their back.
"Lieutenant?"
Alshura turned around. She was surprised with what she saw.
"Officer Mink!"
Alshura was about to rush forward. However,
"Wait a minute liuetenant."
Yoshino grabbed her right shoulder. He had stopped her from moving forward. The female lieutenant seemed annoyed by this. She prompted Yoshino to explain himself.
"That Klein had just told to us that your platoon was no more."
"…so what?"
"If I was Klein, I would deal with the Healer first. That would be the best way to make sure that no one survives."
"!"
Alshura seemed to understand the principle. Healers served as a lifeline within any group. Obviously they would be the first one to be targeted during a group wipeout attempt.
Officer Mink seemed to have realized that she was being suspected. She calmly explained,
"Yes Healers are mostly vulnerable. But if you arrange your skills properly, a Healer could also possess some survival skills. I'm willing to reveal my equipped skills. I understand if you are suspicious of me."
"See? There is no problem right?"
Alshura seemed convinced by this explanation. She was about to walk forward.
But Yoshino grabbed her shoulder again. The female lieutenant looked annoyed. So he said immediately,
"Wait a minute lieutenant."
"What is it now?"
Yoshino ignored the irritated tone of Alshura. He the looked towards the female officer. He continued,
"Officer Mink, you just said that you possess some survival skills. But why reveal that now? Could it be that you used those skills only when you saw that the platoon was in trouble?"
Yoshino paused for a second. He glanced at Alshura. Who seemed to be waiting for his explanation. Then to Officer Mink that was waiting too. Neither of them wanted to finish his statement.
How come some people could pull this trick off?
Yoshino had no choice but to say it himself,
"That would mean you defected."
""!""
Turning your back when your platoon was in need could be tried for treason. Yoshino did not have to worry about this because he did not belong to the Militia. Alshura was excused since she was only following her Captain's orders.
But Officer Mink had no excuse. If she did flee on her own then they should not welcome her with open arms.
"… Yes I did ran away. I am willing to be court martialed if lieutenant wants to pursue this matter."
Officer Mink had admitted. She looked down in shame. Looking at her now. She had several bruises in her body.
"No, that is not necessary. You've suffered much as well."
Alshura noticed the injuries too. She was about to approach her. But Yoshino grabbed her shoulder again.
"Wait a mi---"
"Do that again and I'll incinerate you!"
Alshura snapped. So she was irritated by the fact that her shoulder was being grabbed.
"Alright. Sorry about that."
Yoshino apologized and stayed his hands. He then continued,
"One last question though, Officer Mink. Klein could manipulate minds. Certainly it would be easy for him to trick people on how they perceive him. How can we be sure that you're not Klein in disguise? Not unless you can prove yourself."
He narrowed his eyes and stared intently towards the female officer. He was observing what her reaction would be. The reply he received surprised him.
"Peh! I can stand being accused as a weakling or a coward. But being accused as Bando? Peh! And you! You dare to think of something perverted about me?!"
Officer Mink's voice was filled with disgust. Even Alshura was taken aback upon hearing this. Perhaps she never saw the female officer talk that way before.
Yoshino took this chance to exploit her statement though. He said,
"The fact that you have read my mind proves that you are an enemy!"
"Women can perceive such filthy thoughts even without the use of skills."
Officer Mink argued back. Although her tone was now arrogant. No longer the weak and ashamed voice she had a while ago.
Yoshino was further convinced that his suspicions were correct. There was also the fact that she called Klein in his given name.
But that would only be a superficial proof. He decided to reveal a more crucial point.
"Klein said he followed me back at the dead-end. There was no way he would leave his targets just to follow an unknown factor like me. Not unless he had an associate left behind."
"Hehehe, very perceptive of you. You can die now."
Officer Mink---no, Audrey Mink--- no, Lady Audrey had ordered Yoshino. So she could manipulate minds too!
Enchant Element: Psychic!
Yoshino casted his skill as fast as he could. The urge to kill himself had subsided. He then exclaimed,
"You really are Klein's associate!"
"Peh! Of course not! I'm his boss."
Lady Audrey grinned. The fact that Yoshino was still calling her 'lady' in his thoughts proved that the boost he had was not enough to resist her skills completely.
Alshura was about approach Lady Audrey. Yoshino would not stop her this time. The female lieutenant yelled,
"You traitor!"
"Hold your position now, lieutenant. I may not be able to order you to kill yourself. Well not yet. But I can still order you to stay."
"!"
"Good doggie, hehehehe!"
Alshura was unable to move forward. Lady Audrey laughed as she ordered her target to remain in place.
Yoshino wanted to help. But he barely resisted the previous order. So an indirect aid would probably better. Rather than moving forward, he chose to grab the attention of Lady Audrey. He said,
"Now that I think about it, when I asked you what your mission is, you said that you will be in trouble if you answered. Trouble because your true identity will be revealed, right?"
"Yes. Now die."
Yoshino dropped on his knees. How cruel of Lady Audrey to keep on ordering that?
"Please, I'm just teasing you. If I really wanted to kill you, the first order would have been enough. You really think that Basic Skill of yours can protect you?"
Lady Audrey mocked. She had a point there. If she claimed that she was the boss of Klein then that would imply that she was at Tier 3 too. At the very least.
"Not claim! I really am! Who did you think taught that Bando how to manipulate minds? Seriously, not only did he left the dirty work to me. He even failed to take care of you two!"
Lady Audrey complained. That would explain how Klein had caught with them at the dungeon boss room. Because Lady Audrey was the one who handled the platoon.
"Oh? Dungeon Boss Room?"
Lady Audrey noticed those thoughts. Her mind manipulation was quite potent! And add to the fact that her Tier was no longer suppressed.
"Good, at least you understand your situation now, filth. Hmm, reading your mind now, I can see that you have some juicy information. I will extract them all out of you. One. By. One."
Lady Audrey sneered. She was now walking forward. Taking small steps one at a time.
Yoshino had thought of vile-hearted Healers when he met Lady Audrey before. Little did he know, he had jinxed this situation from the very start!