Scarlet was back from the hospital. It had been a week since she returned. Same as Dean, she was as angry as a woman could be, especially since she wanted to know who the hell was responsible for her assassination attempt as well. It was clear that it was Mick, but Scarlet got a far better lead.
"So Dean, I need your help."
Scarlet stood up in front of his desk, and Dean acted curiously. Scarlet had known how he handled himself in combat. Beating a group of people dressed as a SWAT team was no easy feat that even the strongest student in the academy would have a problem in.
Even after only a week, Scarlet had gotten a lead on someone else who was responsible for the assassination. The name of the lucky kid was Farrel. Someone saw him entering the administration office last night, but his alibi was even more solid than Mick in that regard.
The only eyewitness was a student who was patrolling the school whose credibility was questioned. Still, Scarlet believed that lead without any doubt. Even if he wasn't involved in any way, it should be enough to reprimand someone in a restricted area without any business whatsoever.
"And who's our lucky informant?" Dean asked, curious.
"Sirena, a bullied kid, that's the reason why she is not credible as a witness. She was diagnosed with an unstable mental state, the last time I heard about it, wanna have a look at her?" Scarlet offered.
Dean didn't think Scarlet would need him just for asking a student. Besides, it was the school ground, not a park in the middle of nowhere like before. There wouldn't be any ambush from any SWAT team like the last time.
"Why do you need me, you can ask her by yourself, right?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, but still, Dean, why don't you tag along? You might be able to extract more information from her," Scarlet said.
"Nah, as far as people are concerned, I'm just your average F-rank," Dean answered his reason.
"You don't want to help me, after what I do?" Scarlet played her ace.
"Argh… fine," Dean stood up from his desk.
What was so special about someone breaking into the administration office last night? If a thief stole an official letter to orchestrate his assassination, the eyewitness should have reported it two months ago, not now. Why would this girl be the solution of all of the eyes in this academy?
Scarlet arranged the meeting at the academy canteen. Dean even had zero to no idea how Scarlet got her source of information. Right now, he only could trust her and whoever this Sirena was.
The canteen was no different than any regular canteen. The student would line up to grab the food and they would sit down and eat their lunch together with the others. There were also several vending machines on the corner of the room. It was a post-school hour, so most of the students were gone.
However, one student was catching his attention. She looked scared, and she was sitting alone at one of the tables in the canteen. This person might be Sirena. Dean approached her alongside Scarlet. The girl was wearing glasses.
"Sirena, this is Dean," Scarlet introduced Dean to Sirena.
Dean just waved his hand to show his friendly intention in order not to scare her. Dean walked towards the vending machine and bought three cans of soda while Scarlet sat down right across her. Dean put the three cans of soda and he opened one of them.
"So, Sirena, can you tell me what you know?" Scarlet asked.
"Around last night, when I was patrolling, I saw two unknown figures entering the administration office last night. However, I can't see his face in the darkness," Sirena said.
"How do you even know it is a "he"?" Dean challenged that statement.
"I don't know, one of them had ears on top of their head. I am not sure, but the other was Farrel, no doubt about it," Sirena answered.
"Interesting," Dean drank his cola.
Menkaid. One of the infiltrators was a Menkaid. Still, was it a solo infiltration, or was it a group infiltration? The patrol team in the academy might be not as sharp as the patrol team in the AI-AFB, but still, it was not an easy job getting to the academy without anyone noticing.
"Then someone knocked me out, I don't know who, but the moment I woke up, they are gone."
Sirena was Dean's senior, but in terms of rank, both Scarlet and Dean were equal with her since both of them were PFC. Still, it was not like you had to address a PFC with "sir or ma'am".
"And the military doesn't react to this?" Dean asked.
"They reacted, of course, bolstering the security and all. However, Farrel's alibi is solid," Sirena said.
"Oh, I see," Dean nodded.
"Now you get what I'm getting into, right?" Scarlet added.
"Yeah, I know."
If this Farrel guy was the same guy that stole the same paper that was used to forge the bogus letter, Dean could intercept the guy in the middle of his crime. However, it wouldn't be easy.
Dean was more than well-aware that the 120th Training Battalion patrol team was pretty much unarmored, making them vulnerable to any kind of attack outside of drunk bastards and regular shoplifters. If Menkaid was involved, it should have been the job of the regular military, to be honest.
Still, if the need arose, he might be able to intercept him if there was permission to do so. There would be no way that Dean would be able to catch them at the academy without any permission. However, Dean might be able to convince Adams to do something on this one. Dean had a plan.
"So, this Farrel guy, how close he is to Mick?" Dean asked.
"Too close," Sirena answered.
"I need to report to Adams first, I don't want anyone to know that we are talking about Farrel, you two got me?" Dean said.
Scarlet nodded and Sirena too. They understood what they had to do, which was to keep their mouth shut until Dean said that it was all clear. Dean knew that Adams could help, especially after Dean's last fiasco.
============
In the afternoon patrol, Dean and Adams were in pair again. This time, they were talking about the approach how to putting Dean on Sirena's patrol team. Adams had an idea, but it would involve two non-commissioned officers at once.
"Well, It can be done, to some extent. The group that is patrolling the academy is under the command of Corporal Lirza. Unless we can convince them, it's going to be hard. Sergeant Lanza is the one handling most of the patrol, if we can talk with him, we might be able to work it out. There's also one other person that we need to talk to," Adams suggested.
"And that will request the permission of…?"
"You won't like it, Dean," Adams said.
"Just say it," Dean asked.
"Staff Sergeant Gavril."
"Oh, shit…"
Staff Sergeant Gavril, was the person that instilled fear in any soldier more than any enemy that they would face. Even though Dean only met him once or twice, the last time he met him still instilled fear in his mind.
"Shit indeed. Dean. Don't worry though, Dean. I can help you, no worries. He's a kind man, even if we have seen the other side of him. Maybe we can arrange a meeting between the three of us tomorrow, I'll help."
"And what if they refuse?" Dean asked.
"Believe me, they won't."
"You make me worry about this, you know."
"Believe me, it's not like those three don't have any life, and Sergeant Lanza is a third year student so you don't have to worry, alright?" Adams reassured Dean.
"Sure."
Dean didn't know what Adams would pull tomorrow. However, he wouldn't like it if it meant some extra assignments. Still, considering Adams, he might pull something very very unexpected.