＜ Episode 74 ＞
– It’s disappointing.
A voice came through the monitor, but I couldn’t see my face.
Gregory’s face hardened at the voice, which had the form of a human but did not reveal his identity because it was covered by a misty shadow.
– You and your team have been pretty good so far. So it was an investment.
It was a low voice, but it continued with a voice that had the power to attract people’s attention.
– But I didn’t expect to fail in a place like this. I’ll have to think about you again.
Gregory, feeling the cold sponsor’s feelings, gnashed his teeth.
“Information is wrong. So is the situation.”
– Hmm?
A terrifying light radiated from Gregory’s eyes.
“In the first place, our team was on a break. In the meantime, I was rushed into it. Don’t say you don’t know how important proper rest is to a soldier.”
– ···It’s not that much of an excuse.
“There was also a mess of information. At least you should have figured out exactly who the enemy is! Are you disappointed? I feel like my heart is breaking! After all, it was my soldiers who died!
His face contorted, his voice grew furious, and finally turned into a cry.
Gregory’s body trembled as he glared at the monitor with a life-threatening face.
It is not a waste that the soldiers died.
After all, a soldier’s life is Gregory’s tool.
However, even if it is a tool, it is not a waste.
To Gregory, who had made a plan for the future and walked forward step by step, today’s defeat was very painful.
The person on the other side of the monitor was also speechless at the sight of Gregory squirming like a wounded beast.
– ···What do you mean by incorrect information?
“ . . . The enemy had an expert. A veteran of at least dozens of battlefields. According to the original information, there was no assistance from the National Guard. But it’s full of military backgrounds. Even the servants of the mansion were the ones who went through at least one actual battle.”
– ··· Um.
Units that have maximized organizational power through sufficient training can play with talented people.
At least Gregory thought so, and the soldiers he trained yielded results.
Those who supported Gregory were satisfied with the achievements of such Gregory, and that is why Gregory’s troops were put into this operation.
It was because I thought that if the PMC had only five talented people, it would be easy to capture Armstrong.
“A mage specialized in defensive warfare. A cyborg capable of long-range bombardment. Soldiers who are strong in melee.”
A voice like chewing on something came out.
“Those guys are no problem. Because I expected it. Anyway, mercenaries and solvers are arbitrary. Dealing with those guys is nothing.”
Gregory frowned at this.
“But there is a conductor attached to it. A warlord playing with all of them in his grasp! A true warlord who can anticipate our movements and drive us to the battlefield of his choosing!”
– Well!
“…If I had known this guy existed, I would have recruited more troops and reorganized the strategy.”
After Gregory’s words, which sounded like a wild beast’s growl, there was silence for a moment.
– ··· So what are we going to do? This thing has to be done.
Goregori’s face stiffened at the slightly annoyed voice.
“Send reinforcements. Not mediocre guys, but talented people! I need talented people who move in perfect order under my command!”
– I see. not wanted
“You can look forward to it.”
At Gregory’s strong will, the being on the other side of the monitor laughed lightly.
– I like that. great. You shouldn’t disappoint me this time. Oh.
The existence on the other side of the monitor twitched his shoulders as if he had forgotten something.
– Who is that warfighter?
Gregory’s face contorted.
“John Doe. They say he’s a fixer from the slums.”
John’s name reached members of the city council beyond the National Guard.
***
“Thank you for your effort.”
The servants of the mansion all bowed in unison, following Robin, who lowered his head moderately in a sword-like posture.
They did the utmost courtesy they could, but John’s reaction was not different from usual.
“Any casualties?”
“Some were hit, but there were no fatalities. We will be able to return to the front line within 12 hours.”
Luna is a place where one’s life is the highest priority.
Of course, medical technology had no choice but to develop, and by actively investing and restoring technology from the Great War era, Luna’s medical technology was able to rise to an unrivaled level.
As long as there is no instant death, life can be continued somehow, and damaged bodies can be replaced with implants, so the number of citizens should increase frighteningly, but that is not the case either.
Because so many died.
After receiving the report that there would be no gap in the power anyway, John nodded and expressed his satisfaction, and pride rose on the faces of Robin and other servants.
John Doe.
What he thought was a mediocre solver was close to their ideal.
For those who were all military veterans, including Robin, the existence of an outstanding superior was a matter of life and death, and the John they saw in the previous battle was dominating the battlefield alone.
Although he came out of the army and served as a private in the Armstrong family, he did not go anywhere from where he came from, and the thrill of victory turned into absolute faith in John.
Sensing their atmosphere, John smiled inwardly.
I am satisfied that things went well as intended.
By clearly revealing his presence, he brings the atmosphere of the battlefield and imprints it on his allies.
It was clear that the soldiers who had tasted victory would be willing to carry out even the most unreasonable orders, and would prioritize John’s orders above anyone else if they entered a war situation.
‘I barely took one step.’
There are several mountains to overcome in order to complete the mission, but at least the first hurdle has been overcome, John said calmly.
“Correct the battlefield. Lay sensors around and set up booby traps. The guys who come next won’t be easy.”
“write!”
Leaving behind the servants who were praying for their blessings in unison, they followed Robin to the depths of the mansion.
***
“Are you okay?”
“Do you look okay?”
His face was pale and he was sweating cold, but Li did not lose his smile.
It’s been 3 years since I fell in Luna.
The young man who simply liked games turned into a great soldier while he was on the battlefield, so he could not lose his smile even in this situation.
“···It is my mistake. I should have acted a little more carefully when the recon squads were wiped out.”
“Don’t do anything that doesn’t suit you.”
It came out strong against patrons, but it can’t fool even the same party.
Gregory saw everything other than himself as something to be used, but he was serious about it, and lithium was one of the things he had to treat with the most respect.
Lithium laughed at him as if he knew Gregory’s feelings, and Gregory was relieved.
The scariest thing for a soldier is PTSD, and this wizard doesn’t seem to care about that.
“I want to tear that damn bastard to death with my own hands… but that’s going to be hard.”
Gregory nodded at Lithium’s lamentation.
Powerful people don’t like having implants planted in their bodies.
It is unacceptable to insert foreign substances into the body of an unmanned person who controls his or her own body and goes beyond that.
Of course, it is not that there are cases where implants are operated or limbs are replaced due to unavoidable circumstances, but such unmanned vehicles have clear limits.
A little less than unmanned, but the same goes for wizards and shamans.
Wizards who interfere with the law in response to the mana that is full of the world, and shamans who create miracles by accepting external forces also try to keep their bodies as intact as possible.
At least, people with special abilities don’t have much objection to replacing their bodies.
People with special abilities can use their abilities as long as their brains are intact.
Anyway, now Lithium is completely missing one arm, and it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to generate proper power in this situation.
It is said that the player is assisted by skills, but in the end, the ability is to act with one’s own body.
It’s completely different from the days when miracles were performed with a few finger points across the monitor.
“We requested reinforcements. Powerful people will come.”
“… did inspiration manage to allow it?”
“That means they are in a hurry too. It’s because you’re about to get hurt by your sky-like pride. What.”
Gregory, who licked his lips, continued.
“It hurts to lose soldiers, but it’s not bad in the big picture. Because there was a gap to squeeze in somehow.”
At Gregory’s words, Lithium nodded in agreement.
The biggest obstacle for players trying to prevent destruction is Luna’s public power itself.
There is no such thing as an NPC who is infinitely cooperative and obedient after completing quests in Luna.
Thinking about how to use it and beating the back is basic, and the vested interests never tolerate new challengers, so you might be lamenting that there is a game with such difficulty.
The expectation that Luna’s public power will be destroyed is one of the topics that have been circulating among players for a long time.
But there was a gap.
From the end of this work, Luna’s transformation will begin.
Armstrong’s death would create an awkward atmosphere between the National Guard and city councilmen, planting the seeds of strife.
If Armstrong survives and enters the city council, the structure of power that has been firmly established will change.
In some way, it would be different from the existing Luna, and it was clear that players would have a wider range of maneuvers in the chaos.
And that’s when players can truly come to the surface.
Gregory was able to bet that the eyes of all the players who had been hiding in Luna’s shadow and growing their strength were now focused on this battlefield.
“I have to win anyway. Because I can’t cut off the string I’ve been holding on to.”
At Lithium’s words, Gregory also agreed.
In any case, they made a connection with the city council, and there was a backup at the guild level.
The failure of the request is not assumed at all.
“Can’t you recruit in the guild?”
“You know. It’s hard.”
A sigh leaked from Gregory’s mouth at Lithium’s answer.
They put a lot of effort into making the status of the head of the PMC and the status of a battle mage belonging to it, and guild members other than these two were extremely difficult to maneuver now.
Due to Doyle’s death, the check on players has been sharply raised, and the inspection team and military intelligence agencies are scouring all of Luna.
“Tsk. It’s going to be a tough battlefield. But since I’ve brought command, I’ll be able to do something.”
At Gregory’s words, Lithium nodded in agreement.
Apart from his human personality, Gregory was a good field commander, and it was hard to imagine him losing if he had enough troops.
“Then take care of yourself. Just in case, focus on recovery.”
“yes.”
Seeing Lithium’s smiling face, Gregory turned around.
It won’t take long to recruit troops, and from now on you will have to plan detailed operations.
“…John Doe? It’s not even a funny name.”
＜ Episode 74 ＞ End
how dare you belittle our John he is a legend