Days passed. The time they had been waiting anxiously had finally arrived. Erend, Billy, and LT. Boartusk will again leave the bunker.
Some of the soldiers naturally questioned what reason they had for recently going to the city a lot. But the three of them gave an ambiguous explanation but with clear firmness.
"This is an order from a higher chain of command and is confidential."
When hearing the answer from Lt. Boartusk, the curious soldiers felt that there was no point in asking further. After all, they were just frontline soldiers who were looked down upon.
Before this temporary peace was established, they were destined to die on the front lines. The soldiers stopped asking questions and only told the three of them to be careful. Dealing with the military officers who had sent them here could have landed them in even more trouble.
The old truck that always accompanied them to the city center made an ugly engine sound. But the voice was familiar to their ears.
"Are we really going to steal from the President?" Erend muttered halfway.
The truck has sufficient space so Erend, Lt. Boartusk, and Billy who drove could sit together in the front.
"I don't know, man. That seems like a big crime," Billy responded equally grimly. He wasn't sure about any of this either.
"We just have to do it well. LTC. Coil and Ibis intend to do it in secret," said Lt. Boartusk. Unlike the two of them, he seemed convinced by this plan.
The basis of the lieutenant's belief was that he knew LTC. Coils and LTC. Ibis. He knew he could trust them.
"No disrespect, sir. But I can't trust the top military and government officials," Erend said. "We're never even allowed to see our families in town."
"Yeah, they're assholes," Billy replied. Just like Erend, he also had no formal military education.
Lt. Boartusk was annoyed at their words. But he knew why they could act like that. Remembering their background, Lt. Boartusk could only sigh.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine," Lt. Boartusk said.
Erend and Billy didn't answer because they still had doubts about the certainty.
Suddenly Billy said, "If everything goes ugly, you can use your powers to help us escape, right?"
Erend turned to Billy. "Sure. If we don't have a choice."
Erend wouldn't use his powers if he didn't have to. If anyone found out, then an even bigger problem would be created.
Once they arrived at the headquarters, the three of them headed straight for the LTC. Ibis room. Inside, LTC. Ibis was waiting while staring at his computer.
"You guys have come," LTC. Ibis said as he stood up. "Have you had breakfast?"
"Yes, sir," Lt. Boartusk said.
LTC. Ibis walked towards the door. "Follow me."
They also follow LTC. Ibis headed to a briefing room. There were already two men and one woman in the room.
They watched Erend, Billy, and Lt. Boartusk as soon as he entered the room.
The three people were wearing black clothes without any symbols. Their movements looked like someone who had experience. Their faces were flat and calm. With the three of them, LTC. Coil was already at the front of the room with a laptop.
"Sit down," LTC. Ibis said. Erend, Billy, and Lt. Boartusk sat down next to the three people dressed in black because there were only three chairs left.
LTC. Ibis turned off the light so that the whole room was dark. Makes the light from the projector clearer.
Then LTC. Coil pressed a button on his laptop and the projector's display turned into a blueprint with marking.
"Those three will help us steal the artifact," LTC. Ibis explained. "These three people are members of a special unit and have been trained to carry out covert operations."
"The big man with blonde hair is Steve. The woman is Anna, and the man with glasses is John," LTC. Ibis continued.
The three black-clothed people smiled at them. But Erend felt a third uneasy looking at the three of them. Whether this premonition had something to do with his power as a Dragon or not, Erend didn't know.
He did not feel comfortable with the presence of the three of them. A special unit used to carry out covert operations didn't sound like a place for good people.
Before being drafted as a soldier outside the wall, Erend had heard some news about people doing dirty work for the government.
"Nice to meet you," Steve said with a friendly smile.
"Nice to meet you too," Billy and Lt. Boartusk replied to their words but Erend was silent.
He noticed that Anna was watching him with an unpredictable look. But Erend didn't care and chose to turn his face back to the screen protector in front.
LTC.Ibis and LTC.Coil began to explain their plans to steal artifacts from a storage house belonging to the President.
They all listened intently and felt that it was a pretty good plan. Even so, that does not mean that the plan is not risky. If they were not careful and the plan failed, then the consequences they would receive would be enormous.
"This mission is not easy. But in order to get Elf artifacts and achieve peace, we must do It," LTC. Ibis said.
After the preparations were complete Erend, Billy, and Lt. Boartusk were given room to rest until the mission was carried out tomorrow.
Erend and Lt. Bortusk felt restless and had trouble sleeping until midnight. But Billy easily fell asleep with his mouth open and snoring.
As soon as the next day came they woke up to a loud knock on the door. The sun hadn't come yet but it was a new day.
'Tut, can I avoid the Daily Quest for today?' Erend conveyed his concern to Tut.
[ "Yes, but you won't get any rewards." ]
'I guess it's okay.' After confirming it, Erend felt relieved.
Erend, Billy, and Lt. Boartusk get ready. After that, they boarded a helicopter that had been provided.
Inside the helicopter, Steve, John, and Anna were already waiting for them. The helicopter rose slowly into the air to take them to the preparation site for the artifact stealing mission.
~~~