"Yo? Who's this?"
Kiri was about to knock on the door when a somewhat sarcastic voice rang out from not far away.
Hearing this voice, Kiri frowned and turned to look.
On the street to the west, a man nearly three meters tall, his whole body bulging with muscles to the point where he had to leave his navy shirt unbuttoned, was swaggering over with a few subordinates.
"That's Lieutenant Paul." Kiri whispered into Marsh's ear. "This island mission was originally his, but he was injured in a previous battle, so the Lieutenant Commander assigned the task to me."
Marsh instantly understood.
It seems that no matter where you go, there's always this kind of internal rivalry.
"I heard your entire team was wiped out?" Paul approached, his face full of mockery. "Do you know why my rank is higher than yours? Simply because if this mission hadn't been taken from me, none of the men from our base would have died."
"That's enough!" No matter how patient Kiri was, he couldn't stand someone mocking his fallen comrades.
"Enough? Far from it." Paul's eyes flicked towards the box in Kiri's arms. "Is this the thing?"
With that, he reached out towards the box in Kiri's grasp.
His movement was swift. Even if Kiri wasn't injured, it would have been hard to dodge.
But suddenly, a hand stretched out, pulling Kiri behind.
"Oh? And who's this pretty boy?" Paul squinted as he sized up the unfamiliar face.
"Lieutenant Paul, hello. I'm Marsh."
Marsh greeted him with a cheerful smile.
Honestly, he was curious about what was inside the box too, but now was definitely not the time for that.
Damn.
In his previous life, he had been so ordinary that not a single woman on the street would even glance his way.
Now, in this world, he was being called a pretty boy. This feeling…
It was awesome!
"Are you Kiri's new subordinate? You're quite skilled. How about you follow me in the future?"
Paul wasn't stupid. For someone with no background to rise to the rank of lieutenant in the navy, he needed some brains. From Marsh's earlier action, he could tell that his strength was likely on par with his own.
Someone like that, whose abilities were unknown, was best not to offend if possible.
"Haha, that depends on how Lieutenant Commander Gion assigns us. If I do end up under your command, Lieutenant Paul, I'd appreciate your guidance."
Marsh spoke earnestly, his face full of sincerity.
"Good. You're quite something." Paul nodded, clearly satisfied. Marsh's words were neither too humble nor arrogant, which suited his temperament. "Just make sure you don't follow the wrong person."
With that, he shot a sharp glance at Kiri before turning and leaving.
[Successfully resolved a conflict. Earned 100 Virtue Points.]
Huh?
You get points for this?
"What are you doing here?"
Just then, the door behind Marsh suddenly opened.
Before Marsh could turn around, he heard Kiri snap to attention, saluting with both feet together. "Lieutenant Commander! Ensign Kiri reporting! The mission is complete!"
Lieutenant Commander?
Could it be Gion?!
Marsh's heart skipped a beat.
He really wanted to turn around and see if Gion looked the same as she did in his simulation, but for some reason, an instinct deep inside warned him that if he turned around, something terrible would happen.
"Got it. You're injured?"
Gion nodded slightly, then noticed the wounds on Kiri's body.
"Just a minor injury. Nothing to worry about, Lieutenant Commander!"
Hearing that, Marsh silently rolled his eyes. He was barely clinging to life, and he called it a minor injury?
"Alright, go get some rest. As for the soldiers who died, make sure their families receive the standard compensation."
Taking the box from Kiri, Gion turned to head back inside.
"Uh... Lieutenant Commander!"
Kiri quickly called out.
"Is there something else?"
"This mission was only completed thanks to this friend here, and he's the descendant of a navy martyr, so..." Kiri looked pleadingly at Gion.
Seeing this, Gion knew exactly what Kiri was asking for and nodded. "Alright. He can stay with you and start as a trainee soldier. Take him to register at personnel later."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Commander!" Kiri excitedly nodded and, seeing Marsh still standing there as if nothing had happened, smacked him on the back. "Hurry up and thank the Lieutenant Commander!"
"T-Thank you, Lieutenant Commander!" Marsh reluctantly turned around and nodded in thanks.
"No problem..." Suddenly, Gion, who had already turned and was about to close the door, paused.
That voice... why did it sound so familiar?
"Lift your head!"
It's over, totally busted.
Marsh lifted his head and forced a stiff smile.
Gion's expression remained calm as she nodded, but inside, it felt like she had been kicked by a boot!
This man's voice and face were identical to the scumbag from her dreams!
***
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