"Class 5, Squad 148. Seven members of the whole team were killed in action and one survived. The captain is named... Tachikawa Ichikawa."
The icy memory spread from my back. I couldn't help shivering. The names of the deceased briefly rang in my ears last night.
"When the transport convoy was attacked by overwhelming firepower, Ichikawa Tachikawa immediately made a decision. His squad decided to stay behind and cover the retreat, facing the twin-mounted 107mm rocket launcher alone."
Even darker and bloodier facts slowly unfolded before me. I knew what heavy topic Elsa was going to talk about next and remained silent.
"In just two minutes, the first casualty appeared in the team. They didn't have heavy weapons. The heavy machine gun was with the evacuating main force, and the anti-tank weapon was just destroyed in the first round of attack."
"He was very optimistic and an excellent leader. He encouraged his subordinates that support would arrive soon and that the drone would soon take care of the damn rocket launcher. He still thought so until he died."
There was a feeling of stuffiness in my chest. My throat closed up. The feeling of suffocation spread along with my words. I had experienced that part of history before. Vaguely, I almost guessed the ending.
"As a result, a 'SAM' air defense system appeared there. The drone was shot down. The rapid reaction force couldn't support and turned around and left. With all support lost, Squad 148, with no way out, chose to retreat to the south. In the huge encirclement, one teammate after another died. They tried their best to tear open a gap and break through to the south. In the end, only one person was left. Angeherfi saved her. She is there."
"Gu Xiaoyao, there is no good luck on the battlefield. Your luck is exchanged for by the lives of others... Otherwise, why do you think you would happen to run into that 107mm rocket launcher so coincidentally?"
At this point, I understood everything.
Why did Elsa bring me here during working hours? Why did that girl carry a heaviness and sadness that didn't match her age all over her body... Our success was exchanged for by the lives of her teammates. We owe her. From the moment Jiang Li fired that M118LR, the fates of the entire Squad 072 and the girl were inevitably linked.
Her name is—
"Zhuge Yu, former vice-captain and signalman of Squad 148."
I nodded. When I was about to stand up, Elsa immediately pressed me down with one hand. The strength made my shoulder ache: "Wait, wait. I haven't finished yet."
The neat gunshots interrupted our conversation. The trainees lined up on the airport rattled their rifles a few times and pointed them skyward, firing three volleys in unison, attracting everyone's attention.
This is the funeral ceremony of Yitelan. Due to the mission, no one can leave and can only bid farewell to their comrades in this way. These three shots represent three important qualities: courage, responsibility, and honor. At the same time, they also symbolize the recognition of comrades.
"There's one more thing I have to tell you. She has submitted a retirement application. If you can't make her change her mind and join you today, she will leave Yitelan."
"Why?!" I exclaimed in surprise.
"The inferiority of human beings." Elsa took a sip. "This question is for you to ask her yourself. The retirement application can still be canceled by the initiator within twenty-four hours after it is initiated. This is your only chance. If you succeed, I will transfer her to Class 4. On the contrary, if you fail..." Elsa narrowed her eyes. "Her whole life is ruined."
I nodded seriously and got up and walked towards Zhuge Yu. When passing by the instructor, I heard her say softly:
"Don't let her live in the shadow all her life."
The four Perm PS-90A76 turbofan engines started simultaneously. The giant bird made an unprecedented loud roar. At this moment, the steel behemoth exposed the huge power of heavy industry. Under the thrust, the transport plane slowly moved forward. Finally, at a sufficient gliding speed, it soared into the sky.
Under extreme drought, there is not a single cloud in Kleber. The Il-476 gradually disappeared. From being able to faintly recognize the outline to becoming a tiny black dot in the far distance.
The girl showed a trace of surprise at my temporary visit. Then she still stared out of the window until the transport plane disappeared into the sky forever.
Realizing that the girl had shifted her attention to me, as a visitor, I didn't know how to start for a moment—I am not good at communicating with girls. I have never done anything like chatting up girls. And this is not chatting up. Although the girl didn't say a word, her gaze was like a sharp blade that pierced people's hearts.
Come to think of it, this is the first time I have officially invited a trainee to join Squad 072—Needless to say, the Ji Ling and Ji Han siblings didn't need an invitation at all. Liang Dong came running over after being tricked. Yang Shixiu was recommended by
Angeherfi. Jiang Li and Lu Wanqing joined after spontaneously discussing with me (see the end of Volume 1). Finally, Luo Bing was brought in by Ji Han. Among these people, only Yang Shixiu had a relatively formal invitation.
So am I actually more suitable for pyramid selling?
"Hello."
"Um."
Zhuge Yu simply responded to me. Her gaze was empty, and her eyes still echoed that blue sky. With her red lips slightly parted, the girl's originally oriole-like voice was now full of hoarseness as she issued an order to leave: "If there's nothing else, please go back."
"I... I'm Gu Xiaoyao. I am... Wait, don't leave yet. Please listen to me finish!" Seeing that Zhuge Yu had the intention of leaving, I hurriedly stood up.
Zhuge Yu frowned. Looking down at me from above, she didn't lose any momentum at all: "You are too noisy. Please make way."
"Just for a moment!"
"One minute."
"I'm here to recruit people." I spoke quickly. "My team needs a signalman..."
Before I could finish speaking, Zhuge Yu's gaze was full of coldness: "Do you know about me?"
She wants to kill me.
This sentence popped up in my mind for no reason. I faced the girl's scrutinizing gaze and nodded with difficulty.
At the same time, I observed her whole body. The girl didn't carry any weapons. Only the school uniform of Yitelan was on her body. So she should be no threat to me. There was also an Elsa watching closely not far away.
Probably... right.
"I have already processed the retirement application." Zhuge Yu's gaze was vacant. "Please go back."
For a moment, I didn't know what to say. The one-minute time limit arrived quickly. Zhuge Yu didn't drive me away either and just sat quietly in her seat.
"This isn't very good, is it?" After racking my brains, I managed to squeeze out such a sentence from my barren train of thought. "You've been here for so many days. Your captain definitely wouldn't want you to give up halfway like this..."
"Are you sympathizing with me?!!"
Unexpectedly yet unsurprisingly, the girl interrupted me. "Are you sympathizing with me?!!"
She was very emotional. The previously aloof appearance disappeared in an instant. A trace of ferocity faintly appeared on her beautiful little face.