Author notes:
I bloody hate Patreon, they had just misplaced my Patron chapters so I had to reorganize everything, again! It's why you see a bunch of notification, multiple times...
The newest chapter is a very short one, unfortunately, as I am quite busy with helping my mom preparing for New Year. Though I think I can time my output for another chapter on the 31st. Other than that, I hope you all enjoy the upcoming New Year countdown. Cheers!
Due to the possibility of my rendered images being censored on Webnovel and Imgur, I've created an album on Google Photos. It's on there that every new image from here on out will be posted. Hopefully, it won't be much trouble for you guys and gals to check out the link.
Enjoy!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/waZgkRa3UQhqKQBi9
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"What in the actual fuck!?" Natasha Ciora, having just brought Kallen back from one of their covert dates, nearly pulled out her magic pistols if not for one of the unexpected guests chuckling.
"Language, my dear Raven." This is said by the person wearing a medical eyepatch over her left eye, dressed in the signature attire of a high-ranking Belkan officer. Aside from the Reich Marshal herself, who else can they be?
"You!? Why the Hell are you here?!" Natasha can recognize that teasing tone everywhere. The last few times they have conversed with each other have caused Natasha no small amount of migraine. Now with the Marshal appearing in the flesh, Natasha may developed PTSD.
"Natasha, you know her?" Kallen, who has been placed behind protectively by Natasha, pokes her cute little head out over the A-rank Crusader's left shoulder. Of course, the Reich Marshal just has to appear in person, right at this specific hideout, and when Kallen is also presented. It's as if she timed this just to annoy Natasha in particular. Well, the Crusader's guess isn't that far off from the truth. Yuki is just feeling mischievous all of a sudden. Mischievous and rejuvenated after a good body workout session.
And don't get Kallen wrong, she knows that the person in front of them is the Belkan Reich Marshal. It's just that she didn't expect Natasha to know about her personally. Currently, they're standing inside Natasha's former safe cavern, now the home of the sentient zombies led by the one named Camila. Unexpectedly, the six zombified ladies are just sitting around the large wooden table in the room, with Camily sitting at the head seat while swinging her legs cutely. The Marshal, on the other hand, seems content with being the guest in their humble abode. That said, she didn't come here without any preparation.
Daring a glance to the side, Natasha's blood ran cold when she saw the huge frame of the unknown armored soldiers that once knocked her out. The A-rank Crusader is especially wary of the one with a skull face etched upon their helmet. Noticing her cautious gaze, the skull man stops twirling around his kukri before making a finger gun at Natasha. What Natasha doesn't know is that aside from the five armored soldiers standing inside the cavern, there are four more hiding outside the place, ready to intervene if need be. Other than that, QRF in the form of Belkan airborne troops are standing by on heavily armed Fi-22 Ospreys. If trouble arises, Hell will come down.
"Natasha?" The A-rank Crusader is pulled out of her thoughts by a concerned look from Kallen. Her girlfriend mistakes Natasha's silence as a warning so she has been inching toward her own weapons too.
Natasha just shakes her head. "I am fine, Kallen. It's just that I didn't expect to run into my... Acquaintance, here. Though I don't think she comes with any harmful intention, right?"
Kallen sighs in relief while Yuki just shrugs with a smile, gesturing to Camila who is now spoon-feeding Ana, the Lich, with a pudding Yuki brought over from Belka.
Seeing the sight, Natasha sighs exasperatedly. "Right. Come on Kallen, I think it's safe to join them at the table."
"Ok, but you will have to explain how you came to know one of the most powerful people on Earth." Kallen nodded before following Natasha to the vacant chairs.
Yuki, hearing Kallen's demand for Natasha, giggles. "Oh, I assure you, it's just Natasha living up to her bad luck. Twice, she had come across our operations in Spain. Twice, she was lucky that I was around to stop my soldiers from hunting her down. After that, I deemed it fate that Natasha kept coming in contact with us. So, I decided to reach out, thus establishing a mutually beneficial relationship. The aim is to subtly influence the current Spanish conflict from the shadow, making it so that innocent lives being affected will be kept at a minimum."
Kallen turns to Natasha, surprise evident on her face. "This is a major matter, Natasha, border lining traitorous. Why wasn't I informed of this?" Despite her shock, Kallen still trusts Natasha has a very good reason to hide it from her.
Natasha smiles wryly. "I didn't want you to be involved in the murky water of under-the-table dealings. You're too pure for that."
"But what you're doing is too dangerous! You're playing with fire, on your own! If you had told me, we would have been able to deal with any danger that arose from your decision, Natasha!" Kallen uncharacteristically shouted at Natasha. "It's not that I am mad because you are shaking hands with Belka. I am angered because you didn't trust me enough to accompany you in case everything fell apart! No offense, Marshal, but what would happen to Natasha if you decide to take her out of the picture?"
Yuki shrugs with an easy-going smile. "None taken. Hypothetically, if I do decide to remove Natasha from the chest board, she would be classified as MIA, permanently. And I can also safely say that an additional S-rank Crusader in the mix wouldn't have changed anything. We are that powerful now."
Kallen jerks a finger at Yuki. "See? If you go off and disappear on your own, without ever telling me why, do you know how devastated I would feel? Gosh, Natasha, what If I were the one doing this?"
Natasha flinches, saying. "Point taken."
"Good, I will let you off the hook for now, but you will be educated when we go back." Kallen said, letting Natasha have weird thoughts for a moment before snapping out of it.
Kallen doesn't notice that but Yuki sure does. The Marshal keeps mum about that, however, but she goes on to say. "Now then, cute lover quarrel aside, I have come here to commission you for something, Natasha. If you accept the job, do expect a substantial reward from me. You're fine with me giving Natasha some work, Ms. Kaslana?"
Turning to Yuki, Kallen smiles. "Please, call me Kallen, Marshal. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Elysia has been going on and on about you. Speaking of her, I am very grateful to her for coming to our aid."
Yuki giggles. "The pleasure is mine. Elysia also said a lot of good things about you. The girl would like to bring you both for a tour of Belka when you're ready for it."
"Our thanks for the offer, Marshal. As for you employing Natasha, as long as it isn't compromising any of our morals, we both are fine with it. Though I must wonder, will this matter help improve the situation in Spain at all?" Kallen asked, now in her role as the Crusader's top leadership.
Yuki nods, answering. "As a matter of fact, it will. However, that will only come off as a secondary effect once everything is said and done. Most importantly though, it will surely help the Jewish people and finally take down Sardegna a peg or two."
"The Jews?" It's Natasha who asked curiously.
Yuki waves her hands. "It's better for you to see it in person, rather than me explaining it. So, with Kallen giving you the go-ahead, will you accept it? I will give you the full information package on what you need to know before you're fully committed. You can also refuse it without any repercussions, mind you."
Natasha shares a look with Kallen, with Kallen fully trusts the former on whatever decision she makes. The A-rank Crusader then weighs her options. Clearly, she can just not take the job and then go on with her day alongside Kallen. However, Natasha would be lying if she isn't feeling curious and thrilled about taking the job from Belka of all nations. The reward is just a nice bonus, though she will need a few guarantees if she is to take the job.
"If I do jobs for you, can I assure you that Kallen will be..."
Yuki cuts in. "Safe, secured, protected, waiting at home with open arms for you? You can rest assured that I will do everything I can to make sure she, and even you, will have all the benefits you need from associating with us. I have that much leeway to make sure everything is fair for everyone. I can even bring out a binding contract if you want, it will make sure both parties will stick to their words."
Natasha smiles, relieved at Yuki's confident assurance. Taking Kallen's hand into her own, Natasha and Kallen share a smile, with Natasha saying. "Alright then, if I am to work for you, I will need that contract to ensure our benefits in this."
"Understandable, and while we're waiting for that contract paper to arrive," Yuki snaps her fingers before a stack of folders appears on the table. "I will give you the moment to take a look at them."
Natasha nods before going to work, opening each and every single folder, she peruses the contents. The more she reads, the more Natasha frowns in concern. "How did you get this?"
Raising an eyebrow, Kallen asks. "What are they, Natasha?"
"The layout, plans, garrison details, and even patrol routes for Auschwitz, the place we were reborn as Crusaders. How are you able to get your hands on these!?" Natasha broke out in cold sweats. Auschwitz was supposed to be Sardegna's most guarded secret, thanks to its nature as a separate pocket dimension. Well, not anymore, so it would seem.
Yuki just smiles mysteriously. "I have my ways. Though the look of realization on your face has eased my doubt somewhat, I would still need to commission you for the task."
Sighing, Natasha questions. "Alright, I'll bite. What's the job?"
Yuki leans in, interlocking her fingers.
"I need you to infiltrate Auschwitz and verify the veracity of the intel package on your hand. You will be sent in by one of our aircraft. Until the designated time arrives, you will be feeding us up-to-date intel to collaborate with our sources. Once time's up, you're advised to leave the area of operation at the marked LZ. Auschwitz will be the next target of our military operation Rolling Thunder. And I think that you won't like to stick around and find out just how devastating it can be, no?"
"This is high treason... But I guess we already got labeled as traitors." Natasha wryly chuckled.
Yuki smiles, advising.
"For the duration of your mission, there will be no support until you're ready to exfiltrate. Just a bit of a heads up though, it will do you wonders to steel your heart for the duration of the mission. Auschwitz is not just a place where you got to be reborn as Crusaders, it's so, so much more, and not in a good way. Focus on your job, and nothing else."