Chapter 134

Elder Millie Peninsula Southern Region Coordinates (13, 206, 59).

That was the location where Bruno Amos, the Deputy Commander of the Southern Branch, had summoned all the commanders of the Council, and also the location where Kenis had reported to Leonardo that a platoon-sized or larger group was gathering to the northeast.

Around those coordinates, there were structures that were taller, more elaborate, and more complex in form than those seen in the ruins discovered so far, sparsely erected.

A hazy fog thickly covered the vast forest surrounding the ruins, and the huge mountain range that rose through the fog stood firmly in place, forming a spectacular sight that offered a sense of being overwhelmed.

At the midpoint between the edge of the forest and the structures, some commanders, adjutants, and escort members had already set up tents and lit fires, finishing their preparations to spend the night. They anticipated a long waiting time as only about half of the personnel who needed to gather had arrived.

Even if they used various teleportation tools to come at the fastest speed possible, it would take quite some time for the commanders who were far away to arrive. The same went for Deputy Commander Bruno Amos, who had ordered the summons.

The current time was past noon, and the sky was gradually ripening into a scarlet color, but due to the humid steam obscuring the light, it felt dark overall even though it should have still been bright. The occasional unknown sounds coming from the forest contributed to creating an eerie atmosphere along with the gloomy scenery.

And Hugo, the 8th Platoon Leader, and some of the platoon members who had just arrived in the vicinity were heading towards the base camp of the corresponding coordinates, following a curved wall heavily covered in vines.

The reason they were arriving only now, even though the mining team's hideout was not that far from here, was partly because it took time to hand over the task due to the delayed arrival of the support troops, but also because they had been searching for traces of the two missing persons while scouring the nearby areas on the way.

However, what they encountered in the process were numerous packs of ilaptors.

As they crossed the ruins, holding blood-stained swords with a tired look, they turned a corner around a huge stele and immediately came face to face with commanders of a similar number.

And the one at the very front of that group was probably the face Hugo least wanted to see on this peninsula right now.

"You're quite late."

Meeting Meterion after a long time, Hugo felt his temples throbbing for no reason.

It was uncomfortable to have this encounter now, perhaps because he had come with plenty of things to nitpick about in front of someone who was trying to find any fault, but also because it seemed as if Meterion had been waiting for when he would arrive.

However, he couldn't openly show his annoyance by putting his hand on his forehead, so he slowly closed his eyes once and opened them to shake off the oncoming headache, then asked,

"Where is Deputy Commander Amos?"

"He hasn't arrived yet."

At Meterion's answer, one of Hugo's eyebrows slightly rose.

"If he hasn't arrived yet, I don't know whose standard it is to say I'm late."

"There are accumulated reports and announcements, but the Commander, who was out of contact, is only showing up now, so as a battalion commander, I have no choice but to see it as being late."

The subtle tension felt in the exchange of words made even those around them tread carefully. The two gazes that met also never looked at each other favorably.

"Did you find the missing persons?"

The straightforward questioning tone contained absolutely no sympathy or caution. Although the intention was quite evident, it was a topic that had to be faced at some point since the commanders had gathered here, so Hugo decided not to avoid answering.

"Not yet."

"In the announcement from the 9th Battalion of the Southern Branch, I heard that there were clearly signs of the missing persons taking shelter after escaping from the collapse site."

"..."

"The fact that it's still 'not yet' even though the Commander threw aside his responsibilities and devoted himself to the search operation means it's fair to say that the situation I was concerned about has occurred."

"Don't jump to conclusions."

Hugo said, staring at Meterion with a cold gaze. Normally, it would have been brushed off appropriately, but it was bothersome how they had stopped him midway, and how Meterion deliberately mentioned responsibilities. Today, there were more than a couple of things that rubbed him the wrong way.

Moreover, although he wasn't sure if he was misinterpreting it, it also sounded as if Meterion had been waiting for the worrisome situation to happen.

"It's not a hasty conclusion, but a reasonable judgment."

At Meterion's words, spoken while looking straight at him, veins slightly protruded on the back of Hugo's hand gripping the ice-covered greatsword.

His eyes, mixed with fatigue, were colder than usual. However, arguing in this situation would yield no benefits, and he had no desire to do so, so he intended to ignore it appropriately and move on for now.

But just as he was about to turn his steps, he saw another group approaching closely beyond the commanders of the 3rd Battalion of the Central Branch in front of him.

"Ah, loyalty. Commander, you've arrived."

Hugo looked at the person addressing him with a not-so-welcoming face. Judging by the armband on his arm and the embroidery on his combat uniform, he belonged to the 7th Battalion of the Southern Branch, and based on his epaulets, his position was battalion commander, but it was an unfamiliar face.

He seemed to have been newly appointed not long ago, but it wasn't a face he was seeing for the first time, as he seemed to be one of the nobility faction members he had occasionally seen at social gatherings. Eventually, as he naturally approached and stood next to Meterion, Hugo's speculation turned into certainty.

"Commander, I have an urgent report to deliver."

"...What is it?"

When meeting a superior for the first time in the Council, the protocol was to state one's official rank and name, respond to the handshake the superior initiated first, and then state the main business, but considering the situation, Hugo listened to that urgent report the 7th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch mentioned without saying much.

However, the 8th Platoon Leader next to him knew how exhausted the Commander was right now, so she looked at the battalion commanders who kept him standing here and talking, trying hard to hide her displeased gaze.

"...That's why. The 7th Battalion of our Southern Branch is scattered by companies, so it's difficult to immediately apply various tactics. Especially since 4 companies are deployed to defend the border zone gates, wouldn't the internal personnel be what's urgently needed for subjugation?"

"..."

"So how about withdrawing 2 companies from gate defense and summoning them to the interior...? I'd like to ask for your opinion. And regarding the ammunition supply for some rifle units..."

While listening to the report contents, strategy, and troop deployment issues of the 7th Battalion of the Southern Branch, Hugo stared intently at the battalion commander. Perhaps because that gaze seemed particularly cold and fierce, the 7th Battalion Commander, who was continuing his words, looked a bit nervous. However, Hugo was actually lost in thoughts slightly different from the report contents.

'What are the chances of there being a collaborator among them?'

His gaze slowly swept from the 7th Battalion Commander to the commanders under him, and to the commanders of the 3rd Battalion of the Central Branch next to them. And his final gaze was directed at Meterion, but soon, as the 7th Battalion Commander finished his report, he turned his head towards that direction and asked,

"Is there no other solution to reinforce the internal personnel than extracting the gate defense personnel? Wouldn't it be faster to call the support troops on standby?"

"Ah, yes. That's true, but I thought it would be more effective in applying tactics to reinforce with the battalion members I originally commanded—."

"The gate defense personnel can't be reduced any further. Currently, only the minimum number of personnel are deployed, so if we reduce it further, the surveillance area per person will increase, raising the possibility of gaps in security."

Hugo interrupted the 7th Battalion Commander's words and continued instead,

"To pull the previously stationed defense personnel into the peninsula and newly deploy the support troops on standby there involves too many unnecessary movements such as handing over each position and situation, and redistributing the areas of responsibility. Regarding the reinforcement of personnel, I'll discuss it together when Deputy Commander Amos arrives, so for now, wait on standby."

At the Commander's words that cleanly dismissed him, the 7th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch seemed to have more to say, but judging from his expression, he must have determined it wasn't the right atmosphere, so he soon bowed his head and backed down.

"...Yes, I understand."

"Ah, and one more thing."

However, the Commander seemed to have more to say.

"The 1st Battalion of the Central Branch, including myself, had just arrested a large-scale illegal mining team and were on our way back after handing them over to the support troops. The fact that so many of them were able to enter the interior of the peninsula means that the current level of defense and security in the border zone is seriously lax."

The 7th Battalion Commander's face instantly turned pale.

"In the future, along with the reinforcement of personnel, I will hold you, the battalion commander, responsible for the security personnel who failed to properly carry out their duties, so keep that in mind."

Following that, the 7th Battalion Commander's gaze briefly turned to the side, but no change could be found in Meterion's expression, who was in that direction.

Hugo, who had deliberately delivered the news of the mining team's arrest to see the reactions of the two, quietly looked at the two faces with contrasting expressions, then tried to finally set foot in the base camp.

However, before he could even take a step, another voice calling for the Commander was heard from afar.

"Commander!"

Looking up, he saw the commanders of the 6th Battalion of the Central Branch, who seemed to have just arrived, in the airspace above the ruins. Delua spotted the people densely gathered in front of the huge stele and Hugo standing in the middle of them, so she immediately descended and set foot nearby.

Then, pushing through the gathered commanders, she approached and said,

"The base camp is right ahead, so what are you all doing here? Are you having a meeting? Ah, before that, Commander. The report I have to give..."

Delua, who had been looking at the faces of the commanders one by one, turned her head towards Hugo, who had been the purpose of her descent, and flinched.

Not only had his usually terrifyingly neat face noticeably deteriorated in the past few days, but that particularly unpleasant expression was something she had only seen when he had to work overnight for nearly a week. If she delivered the report now, it was clear she wouldn't hear anything good.

As Delua instinctively stopped speaking, Hugo said to her,

"Let's hear it a bit later. For now, let's go to the base camp and wait—."

"Commander!"

Hugo's eyes, interrupted midsentence, closed tightly to the point where veins protruded on his forehead.

The 8th Platoon Leader, who had been watching his reaction, turned her head towards where the voice had come from and saw two liaison officers approaching. However, Hugo didn't even look at them and raised his right hand to press and rub his brow. The thought occurred to her that this was all the result of the Commander throwing aside his responsibilities and devoting himself only to the search, as Meterion had said.

Due to not having slept for almost three days, the headache he had tried hard to chase away came back more intensely. Now it even seemed like he was hearing auditory hallucinations.

'Commander—.'

'Commander.'

'Commander!'

Everywhere was filled with voices calling for him, so he couldn't focus at all.

The liaison officer who had descended from above lightly saluted and tried to get straight to the point, but Delua next to him grabbed the liaison officer's collar and quickly shook her head. It meant not now.

At that, the 8th Platoon Leader, who had been gauging the situation, stepped forward, emboldened by Delua's action, and opened her mouth as if to sort out the situation.

"I apologize for interrupting, but since everyone must be tired from traveling a long distance, it would be best to move to the base camp first and give the reports during the formal meeting."

The commanders, who had likewise been watching the Commander's unpleasant appearance, all nodded in agreement at her words. As they parted to both sides and made way, Hugo lowered the hand that had been pressing his brow and slightly nodded to the 8th Platoon Leader to express his gratitude.

In that manner, the 1st Battalion, including him, finally took steps towards the base camp, but coincidentally, even that movement didn't last long. It was because the sound of clicking one's tongue, "Tsk," stimulated Hugo's ears before he could even take a second step.

The low voice that followed seemed quite small, as if it were a monologue, but the surroundings were too quiet to muffle that sound.

"Must have more than enough energy to run away."

Hugo's steps stopped. His expression gradually turned cold as he stood still for a moment, and his Adam's apple slowly moved up and down once.

In the same situation, Delua covered her forehead with her hand and closed her eyes tightly once. It was because, given Meterion's personality, there was a high possibility that it was a deliberately loud remark meant to be heard.

As Hugo slowly turned his head, he saw Meterion leaning against the stele behind him, crossing his arms and quietly staring at him.

At one time, everyone had highly regarded his persistent personality that didn't care about public opinion when others were trying to gloss over matters, but now his actions seemed to be nothing more than an attempt to provoke him.

As the two gazes met, a suffocating silence lingered for a moment.

An eerie cry echoed from the forest, and the surrounding air turned chilly for no reason.

Thanks to that, no one could open their mouths, and only the commanders' eyes were busily darting around. At that moment, Hugo directly turned and took two big strides towards Meterion.

In an instant, Hugo's greatsword pierced the stele behind Meterion.

Kwang—!

As the wind suddenly brushed against his face, Meterion's eyes widened. His hair swayed slightly from the shockwave and settled back down.

In front of him, Hugo's cold face could be seen gripping the handle of the greatsword.

It had happened so quickly that the commanders were all frozen and couldn't even open their mouths. Amidst that, Meterion slowly turned his head and saw the huge ice embedded right next to his head.

It was a narrow gap that could have really pierced his head if it had been slightly more to the side.

The surface of the greatsword had the monster's blood frozen in the shape it had been flowing, adding to the brutality.

Meterion looked at his dumbfounded face reflected on the blood-stained greatsword, then gradually frowned and turned his head forward. Then, he stared at Hugo with an equally brutal gaze and said, dumbfounded,

"What the hell are you doing right now?"

To him, Hugo let go of the greatsword's handle and took one step closer. Then, he whispered quietly to his face,

"Just be quiet. Read the mood a bit."

The shadowed blue eyes warned fiercely. Eventually, Hugo's large hand gripped Meterion's shoulder as if pressing down on it, then tapped it heavily a couple of times before coming down.

He stared into Meterion's eyes until the end, then left the embedded greatsword as it was and broke away from the commanders. The 8th Platoon Leader and 1st Battalion members, who had been silently watching the situation, hurriedly followed him.

He felt the atmosphere among those left behind freezing over, but Hugo didn't want to care about that right now.

Rubbing near his eyebrows, he strode away with his long legs and suddenly raised his head towards the sky.

As the thick fog gradually cleared, the high mountain ridges revealed themselves along with a faint light.

"He's here on time."

Bruno Amos's mana was approaching nearby.