Rou stood 3 paces away from Drei, maintaining a straight posture like the guards patrolling the surface.
Each man, of varying ranks and statures, presented their salutes to Captain Holland, who kept a cool gaze straight ahead without responding to their words.
Captain Holland was known as the crimson beauty, one of the 4 women who were on the Graznov archipelago. No man who knew her background would dare insult her or show a rebellious attitude towards her.
Among the guards a story from the past spread. The week that Captain Holland arrived at the Graznov Archipelago, at the age of 18, two men cornered her in one of the prison corridors, using their service weapons as a threat, while one of the two took advantage of her body.
That same day, a report was sent to superiors, the Andreev family, notifying the death of two of their senior guards without any further explanation. Witnesses who arrived at the scene could only find all the walls covered in blood, while Captain Holland stood calmly in the middle of the mess, without any damage or stain on her body.
"Welcome Captain, to what do we owe the honor of your presence," said a plump man, at least 4 sizes wider than Rou.
"I need a new suit for my personal guard, the suit you were assigned is quite damaged and has flaws in its design," Drei laid a card on the table and added, "The sooner you finish the better, you don't want to hinder this captain's strict schedule."
The hold attendant shivered as he sensed the threat in Captain Holland's words. Glancing sideways at the guard behind the captain, the attendant revealed a glint of suspicion in his eyes, "This guy seems to be new, I've never seen him on the island before. Perhaps he was sent especially to serve the captain," he thought inwardly revealing a broad smile on his face.
"I wouldn't dare my lady, if you want a new uniform so be it," said the attendant separating from the captain. "You, come with me to change that crap you're wearing," the attendant owed respect to the captain, but in levels of authority, any guard was beneath him and he could not speak politely to them.
Rou smiled coldly and followed the steward, he had received the same sentiment from the guards on the island, who wished to be under Captain Holland's protection.
When they reached one of the rooms, where there were all kinds of suits and equipment for daily use, the attendant stopped and pulled a tape where all kinds of tools were lying to take the measurements of the guards.
"Get rid of the junk you're carrying and stand on the black box on the floor. The captain will be angry if you delay, so don't waste my time," said the attendant hoping Rou would move.
"You seem full of yourself, you sure talk to me like that," Rou said, he took off his helmet revealing his greasy face with a wide grin. "Come on, take my measurements. When you're done I'll be standing next to your precious captain, something that someone like you will never be able to admire," seeing that the attendant trembled at his words, Rou felt more courageous and threw off the cloth over his body.
"You...!", the attendant said furiously, advancing towards Rou to take the measure of his body. "The moment she abandons you I will take my revenge you piece of trash. Even if she is by your side, so what. You are still a miserable guard who is locked up in the archipelago, do you think she will take you to her side when she leaves this place. You must be dreaming," the attendant threw his tools on the ground after touching Rou's body, wiping his hands.
"Thank you for this," Rou picked up one of the shirts the attendant had thrown on the floor in one of his outbursts and began wiping every trace of sweat on his body.
The attendant picked up a set of clothes and added a cleaning set that he left by the entrance. "When you finish your round, come back for the grooming supplies. A personal guard for Captain Holland can't have lousy grooming like you. Now go, before I regret it," the attendant said, picking up the mess Rou had created.
"This having power feels great," Rou thought looking at the new suit over his body. Unlike the previous one, this one covered every part of his body, without putting undue pressure on his skin, keeping his form straight and authoritative in the eyes of others.
"Not bad, kid," Drei said looking at Rou's body, which seemed to be an armored tank, with a strong pressure around him due to how thick his arms were, which could break a concrete block with ease.
Rou raised one of his hands and held the back of his head, "Thank you...".
"Well, Dmitry you will be in charge of my security from now on. Remember, my words are absolute, the slightest mistake and you are out, I will not repeat these words, understood?", Drei said crossing her arms behind her back.
"Yes my lady," Rou did not dare to waste the opportunity he got in a stroke of luck. Together with Captain Drei, no one would dare question his identity and he could get the information he needed.
"You know how to drive, I need to get to the control building, this day will be quite busy," Drei threw some keys to Rou, who caught them in the air with a little difficulty.
Rou didn't have a vehicle of his own in his previous world, although he had driven a couple of times in console games, trying it in the real world was totally different.
"Come on, what are you waiting for, we're running out of time," Drei said as she saw Rou put the key in the vehicle's slot without making another move.
"You can Rou, remember the practice of the games, this shouldn't be that different," Rou pressed the clutch lever and began to slowly accelerate while adjusting the gearshift. The vehicle began to move forward slowly, but the sound of the engine was erratic, threatening to shut off at any moment.
"The slightest mistake and you're out...", Rou remembered Drei's words. "No, I can't fail," Rou accelerated the vehicle and it recovered, moving forward on the road. Quickly Rou adjusted the gear lever and kept the vehicle on the dirt road.
"Well done kid, but you know, it's in the other direction," Drei said as she reviewed a list of documents in her hands. "What about the idiot who is recruiting the new guards. How could he possibly recruit a guard who doesn't know how to drive a vehicle," Drei thought looking sideways at Rou.
With the light of day, Rou could see that the island was bigger than he thought, only the prison sector occupied a small part of the whole island. On the way Rou found a large area where some airplanes were parked, following a road that went all the way to the north coast.
Following the signs along the way, Rou arrived at a building about 20 stories high, where every so often all kinds of people came out who did not wear the costume used by the island's guards.
"Come on, as my personal guard you must be by my side at all times", Drei clasped her hands and remained silent.
Rou turned off the engine and got off the vehicle more sure of himself, only the beginning was difficult to drive, while he was on the road, little by little he was gaining more experience.
When he saw that the captain still didn't get out of the vehicle, Rou ran quickly to her and opened the door.
Drei didn't say another word, she adjusted her suit, and carrying a folder in her hand, walked through the main entrance of the building towards one of the elevators.
This time Rou took the initiative, positioning himself next to the captain ready to select the destination floor.
"Eighteenth floor, we will first participate in the daily briefing, before delivering the report of the new prisoners."
After Rou selected the 18th floor, the doors began to close.
"Hold the elevator please," said a man with a large number of books in his hands.
Rou put one of his feet on the door before they closed, and using his arms opened the elevator, "Come on, you can go up now."
The man caught his breath, and carefully lifted his face, replying, "Thank you, I can't be late for the meeting."
Rou was surprised that the man was dressed in a white coat.
"Maybe they do dangerous experiments on this island," he thought as he looked at the strange names on the book covers. "What floor are you going to?" he asked.
"Floor 9," said the man in the white coat.
"So you're one of the research lab assistants," said Drei who was interested for the first time in the man next to her. "Tell me, have they managed to have breakthroughs in their latest experiment."
The man in the white coat shivered as he recognized the woman next to him, he quickly took a firm stance and saluted, "Good morning Captain Holland. Forgive my rudeness, but the research lab information is classified, I don't have the level of authority to reveal that kind of information."
"What kind of secret would they be hiding on this island," Rou wondered as the elevator doors opened again. The man had begun to sweat almost to Rou's level, where at any moment he might fall to the floor covering his head for fear of the captain's reaction.
"With your permission captain, I must return to the lab," the white-coated man ran down the corridor after finishing his words.
"Coward...", Drei whispered. "I hope you don't become one more of them," she said looking coldly at Rou who felt like a sharp sword was trying to pierce his heart.