54 – Pinecone (2)
“Norton!”
“Yes, yes!”
“Don’t just stand there idly, move the luggage!”
The Resistance recruit, Norton Palae, hurriedly started moving.
He loaded the car one item at a time. Starting from basic supplies, to essential components for repairing the broken trains.
He didn’t forget to bring the framework for laying temporary rails.
The core element of this mission was to restore the train to operational condition.
Pinecone… Was that the name?
Norton Palae massaged his sore back. He took a moment to catch his breath.
The town name he had overheard was surely something like that.
Pinecone. A village established by the dwarves as an outpost near the mines. That’s what he knew.
He heard that the goods brought from the train this time would include important resources extracted from the mines.
What would happen if he managed to collect them all? Perhaps they would receive a larger reward than they originally expected.
In that case, not only could he provide for his family but also save for the future…
“Noton! How many times do I have to tell you to move the luggage?”
“Sorry, sorry!”
Norton Palae quickly got back to work. After half a day’s work, he managed to fill the massive transport truck with all the luggage.
The interior was packed so tightly that hardly any space was visible. Norton Palae wiped the sweat off his forehead with difficulty.
A superior came over and handed him a canteen.
“Thank you!”
“You’ve worked hard.”
The superior put a cigarette in his mouth.
“Where are you from?”
“Paris, sir.”
“Paris. It’s a nice town. You didn’t come from the city, did you? Well, the guys who enlist in the resistance army from the city are few and far between.”
He rummaged through his pocket as if he needed fire. Norton Pale quickly pulled out his lighter.
The senior officer chuckled softly.
“You’re quite observant.”
“Thank you!”
A thin smoke rose into the air.
“Do you have that too? The dream of making a fortune overnight?”
“…Ahahahaha.”
“Well, it’s not a wrong thing to say. If you accumulate merits in the resistance army, you get paid accordingly. Did you support this Pine Cone mission for the bonus?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why do you want to earn money? What are you going to spend it on?”
“I plan to send it to my parents.”
“…You’re a filial son.”
The senior officer took a deep drag on his cigarette as he looked at him sideways.
“When you go to the battlefield, listen only to me. Don’t get excited. It’s forbidden to move ahead without permission. Even if there’s a hole, don’t move unless I tell you to. Got it?”
“Ah, yes, sir.”
“See over there?”
Norton Pale turned his head sharply. A man was standing where he pointed.
A sharp and cold officer who seemed somewhat stern.
“He’ll be the deputy commander for this mission: Ethan Valf. He’s a famous playboy. Throws himself into the front lines voluntarily, that crazy guy.”
“P-p-playboy…?”
“He looks like a scoundrel because he has no manners. But, you know, when he gives orders, he does it in a marvelous way, especially when it comes to battle command.”
“……..”
“So, in summary, when we engage in combat, you listen to that playboy for overall directions, and for the specifics, listen to me. Got it? We have to trust each other and rely on each other as comrades. As long as we don’t fool around, we can return with the rewards. Let’s watch out for each other.”
“Yes, understood!”
“Lower your voice a bit. Well, anyway…”
The senior officer chuckled softly. He tapped his cigarette against something and put it out.
“Don’t die, Norton.”
“…Yes!”
Norton Palais vigorously nodded his head. Then, suddenly, he glanced intently at the people at the far end of his vision.
Four individuals wearing masks. Their diverse races made their outfits stand out.
Black jackets. What lay inside them was different from the usual military uniform.
It felt as if they were looking at civilians dressed in ordinary clothes.
“Um… may I ask you a question?”
“What is it?”
“I’m curious about who they are…”
The senior gave him a quick glance.
“Oh, those guys from the penal unit?”
“If they’re from the penal unit…”
“That’s right. Exactly. They are among those specially trained to carry out special missions…”
The senior clicked his tongue.
“Criminals trying to do some more mischief. Don’t trust them. Oh, by the way, don’t bother hitting on the women either. See that blonde one who looks dirtier than others?”
Indeed, she could be seen. Platinum blonde hair. Twin tails.
Unbeknownst to Norton Palais, he involuntarily swallowed his dry saliva. Perhaps it was because of their fierce appearance.
Despite the danger lurking around them, he felt an urge to approach discreetly and take a look.
“They may look pretty on the outside, but their inside is no good, so I’ve heard. There’s this guy who almost got beaten up when he tried striking up a conversation with them.”
“……”
“It’s best to treat them like nonexistent. As much as possible.”
“Yes, understood.”
Came from the criminal unit.
Norton Palais unknowingly wrinkled his face. Now that he thought about it, weren’t they the only ones not engaging in any conversation?
Seeing that they hadn’t helped during the preparation phase, it seemed unlikely they would be of any assistance in the upcoming battle.
…Even if they were a special unit, they didn’t particularly seem well-equipped.
They might give the impression of civilians visiting a military unit if someone were to see them.
Norton Palais turned his head. The senior’s words were right.
They surely weren’t exceptional individuals.
…
A massive transport truck.
Four vehicles escorting the surroundings.
The departure took place early in the morning. There were exactly five people on board the escort vehicle.
Norton Pallet rode in the same vehicle as the senior with whom they had discussed the story yesterday. However, there was no cheerful atmosphere like yesterday.
“It feels cramped.”
A huge figure. Just by looking at it, you could tell that this person who easily exceeded 2 meters in height had boarded the vehicle.
His whole body was covered in bulging muscles, to the point that it could be seen even beyond his black jacket. It was as if his entire body was a weapon.
It was the person they saw yesterday. The criminal referred to as a special forces member.
Norton Pallet unconsciously averted their gaze. It felt like they would be devoured if their eyes met.
Let’s not speak unless necessary.
“Hey.”
They didn’t respond and avoided eye contact.
He growled.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I-I’m sorry…?”
“Do you expect me to talk to a f*cking wall? Huh?”
“I-I apologize…”
“Enough of that. If you have something to chew, show me.”
“I-if you mean chewing gum…”
“Tch. Even that, give it to me.”
Norton Pallet hurriedly rummaged through their backpack.
“If it’s b-biscuits…”
“…Tsk. Hand them over.”
The recruit took the biscuits and chewed them down quickly. A platinum-haired woman from the same unit, who was moving to another vehicle, lightly tapped the recruit’s side.
“Don’t bother the kids, calf.”
C-calf?
Isn’t this woman afraid of him…?
“It’s up to me. Get out of your vehicle.”
“You want me to talk to the squad leader?”
“…This guy handed it over first.”
“You’re kidding, right? Whether you snatch it or he hands it over, it doesn’t matter… Let’s just go quietly without causing any trouble. Huh?”
“Are you my wife?”
“Do you want to die?”
He frowned and put his arm on Norton Palace’s shoulder.
“You gave it to me because we’re close, right?”
“…Uh, yes…?”
“Anyway, I said don’t cause an accident.”
The man who raised his middle finger to the woman who was getting further away released his companion from his shoulder.
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Don’t you have anything else?”
“No…”
“Bring something next time.”
But there probably won’t be a next time they meet.
Norton Palace nodded first. If he had caused trouble, he wouldn’t have been able to pick up his bones.
“We’ll start!”
The car started moving. Norton Palace lifted the supply gun in his hand.
From Noble mtl dot com
The face of the cowherd next to him twisted once again.
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Don’t let go of your strength.”
“But we should be cautious…”
“The gunner sitting in the center should do the role of being careful. We just need to come out when something happens. Don’t set up with weapons in a small space. You’ll get killed.”
…As expected, he was scary.
“Oh, I see…”
“Are you saying too much?”
The senior who was sitting in the front seat turned around.
“We have our own rules. Let’s just ignore each other.”
“Do you teach retarded things to chicks?”
“…You should watch what you say.”
“I don’t think I have to be that careful.”
Flames sparked in the collision of gazes. It was a situation of potential explosion at any moment.
The car jerked. The senior turned his head first.
“…Tsk.”
“Cough.”
An uncomfortable atmosphere filled the car. Norton Palé couldn’t even catch his breath properly.
The car kept moving. The slow speed at which it was moving gradually began to accelerate.
Moving along a narrow road that had been built along the broken railroad.
The surroundings began to slowly quiet down. Even the distant sound of birds soon disappeared.
Norton Palé noticed the sniper raising his leg. Perhaps he felt something, too.
It was too quiet.
Too quiet… it felt like I’d come to a strange place…
“…….”
“…….”
No one was speaking, but everyone in the car seemed tense. The car’s jolting seemed to be getting worse, and more frequent.
Norton Palé reflexively raised his gun. This time, the sniper didn’t say anything either.
He just stared out the window with a fixed expression.
“Hey. Ears.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Do you see it?”
“…What… do you mean?”
“Red light. Can you see it?”
Red light… what was that about?
Norton Palé narrowed his eyes. The sniper quietly took aim at the spot pointed out by the Ears.
Brushes of passing shrubs. The untamed forest was quickly receding into the distance.
A red light…
I don’t see it anywhere… What’s this about…
“…Huh?”
The voice unintentionally burst out. Just now… something…
Is there really a red light…?
“It’s a ‘mole’.”
“Yes?”
“That’s why rookies are like this.”
The veteran soldier grumbled.
“Don’t you even read the tactical manual? They’re like Harvest’s forerunners. Typically, they hide in the terrain and observe those who invade their territory.”
“Are they like soldiers on guard duty?”
“Something similar. They have absolutely no combat ability, but they’re incredibly skilled at sneaking and spying.”
The veteran soldier clicked his tongue.
“I taught you for the price of a biscuit. There’s no more kindness than that. Stay alert. Kid. You’ve entered enemy territory, so you’ll soon miss the silence from earlier.”