Return to Base: Praises and Prospects
“Judging by your expression, it seems Palan didn’t have anything nice to say about me. And here I thought I’d treated him pretty well.”
“Ah… no, sir. He always spoke highly of you, said you were a really good man.”
Aisa tried to cover for him belatedly, but her face had already given too much away.
“Looks like you’re just lying back and taking it. That said, pushing into the heart of the theater wasn’t a smart call. You know that, right?”
“Yes, sir…”
If Eden hadn’t been there, she’d have ended up a hostage. No room for argument.
“Digging into the enemy’s secrets is important, but protecting our own comes first. Remember that. And the top priority is not getting caught.”
Words she’d heard drilled into her endlessly during training.
But hearing them after living through it? They hit completely different.
“I’ll keep that in mind, sir.”
“More than that, Palan’s got a good nose for it now—probably because he’s been caught once himself.”
“After going through that with him, it’d be weirder if he didn’t suspect something.”
“Fair point.”
Eden nodded as if conceding to Alpen’s words.
“Speaking of, does Palan treat you well? Hard to believe anyone sticks it out under that screw-up.”
Aisa shook her head without a second’s hesitation at Alpen’s question.
“He treats me really well, sir. There’s a lot I can learn from him.”
“His usual antics don’t exactly scream ‘role model.’”
Alpen looked baffled, but Aisa doubled down in Palan’s defense.
“He always throws himself into the mission without a second thought—lives up to that ‘sacrifice for the greater good’ spirit, doesn’t he?”
“Hm…? Sacrifice for the greater good?”
“What’s that?”
The Palan they knew was the last guy you’d associate with self-sacrifice.
“Man, your eye for people is even worse than his.”
Eden shook his head, rubbing his temple.
* * *
“That wraps up everything on the map, right?”
“Yes, sir. You’ve all worked incredibly hard.”
The nine-day odyssey ended with the destruction of the final magic tool.
“Once we had the map, it was smooth sailing—no real hardship.”
“Ha… haha.”
Maybe no sweat for Lieutenant Colonel Garen, but not for me.
‘Fucking exhausting.’
Sure, the map made hunting the tools easier.
But cranking up the pace doubled our monster fights.
‘Never team up with these Special Forces psychos again.’
Spending a week with them confirmed it.
These guys are machines. Feed ’em rice and oil, and they never quit.
“Great work, everyone.”
Lieutenant Colonel Orpia approached, greeting Garen.
“Ha… haha! No, no, I didn’t do much.”
Garen scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
‘Totally smitten.’
Probably only Orpia hadn’t clocked it.
‘Or maybe she has and just plays dumb.’
Intelligence Agency pros at hiding emotions—she’d know.
“Lots of folks waiting, so let’s head back quick.”
“Yes, ma’am! Pack up, everyone—return to base!”
Garen’s booming voice finally ended this hellish op. Back to base we went.
And waiting there, sipping coffee with an unwelcome face…
“About time.”
That obnoxious mug and voice.
Eden—fashionably late this time—addressed me.
“You’ve had a rough go.”
I’d heard the gist of his role, so I dipped my head in salute.
“Over a month camping and combing the area. Tough stuff.”
“You look a bit plumper than last time, though.”
“The west front’s got openings—”
“Must’ve misseen. You’re shining as ever today.”
Guy never lets a jab slide.
“Finally got some sense knocked into you.”
Eden nodded approvingly, draining his cup.
“Heard you shone again. Quite the talent.”
“All thanks to you, sir.”
“Not wrong.”
‘Not wrong my ass—I carried it.’
That shameless grin’s got a talent for pissing people off.
“Busy man like you—how long you sticking around?”
“Couple more days. Gotta root out all these spies.”
“Sounds rough.”
In a way, this mess started because of me.
‘Never dreamed Jerrun was a traitor.’
Didn’t catch a whiff, so the news floored me.
“It’s taxpayer money—gotta earn it. Smart of you to anticipate their reaction and prep during the mission.”
“Aisa did the heavy lifting. I just muttered it offhand.”
I’d given direct orders, but pushed the credit her way.
‘Just say you called it—why spill the truth?’
Too damn conscientious.
“Speaking of, she overstepped with enthusiasm, but top-of-class potential.”
Rare praise from Eden.
“She’s outstanding—nails anything you throw at her.”
“You love your juniors.”
He shook his head like I’d spilled some secret.
“Question: when can she join Intelligence officially?”
“Aisa?”
“Yes.”
I’d offered to help, but didn’t even know the process.
“Winter next year, earliest.”
“That long?”
That’s a full year.
“Annual review in October, decisions by November.”
“Didn’t know.”
More structured than I figured.
“You should study up on us when you get time.”
“Not super appealing, but I’ll check it out someday.”
Truth: zero interest in deep-diving Intelligence.
‘Know too much, and you’re trapped for life.’
Worst of the worst.
“Another thing: for non-term agents, how much merit to go official?”
Expected blowback, but Eden kept it simple.
“Enough to satisfy the commander and earn a commendation.”
“Tall order.”
Getting to the commander’s ears? Huge hurdle.
“Special hires aren’t easy. Your junior loyalty’s intense—asking this stuff.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if she advances quick?”
“Dunno. Rookies without prep die fast.”
His tone turned dead serious, like he’d seen it plenty.
“Noted.”
Somehow, silence stretched ten seconds after.
‘Time to bail.’
Chat dragged, fatigue maxing out.
One more question left, though.
“Things winding down—any post transfer soon?”
Won’t change much knowing, but prep the mind.
“Funny you mention. You’re popular—requests from everywhere, especially the west.”
Fuck no.
‘Did enough—why drag me back?’
This damn west’s got a grudge.
“Ha… haha, really?”
“Sadly, you’re stuck here till winter’s end. Not as critical as the west, but this place is key now.”
I clenched my fist without thinking.
“Worried about that—wise call, sir.”
“Like the life here, huh?”
“Haha, more like I wanna stay put for once.”
This nomad shit wears thin fast.
“Get it, but that’s Intelligence. Adapt.”
“Yes, sir.”
Knew it forever, but his counseling sucks.
‘Adapt, endure, push through. This guy’s in his twenties?’
Ultimate boomer.
“Got a problem?”
“No, sir. Guess I won’t see you till after winter.”
He never visits without reason.
‘Next posting at earliest.’
Never married, but this feels like sending the wife to her folks for New Year’s.
“If nothing comes up.”
“What’re you two doing here?”
Right as I eyed the exit, Orpia entered.
“Catching up with an old subordinate.”
“Yeah? Was gonna borrow Palan a sec—later?”
“We’re done. Take him.”
Eden greenlit without asking me.
‘I’m cargo now?’
Sad state.
“Spare a moment?”
“Sure.”
Hauled my lead ass out after her.
‘Wiped out.’
Orpia’s great, but still superior.
No relaxed chats.
‘Should’ve bolted to colonel sooner.’
Regretting internally, I followed to the lounge.
“Coffee?”
“Had one earlier—water’s fine.”
“Okay. Water for me too.”
She poured and handed me a cup.
“Should be me serving—thanks.”
“Whatever. Guess why I called you?”
Straight to it.
Lots of reasons, but one screamed.
“That magic you showed last time?”
Blue eye, goblin-roasting flames.
Told to keep shut, so I had—but she’d worry.
“For the record, I’m tight-lipped. Won’t spill unless tortured.”
“Not even under torture?”
“Torture’s… iffy.”
Saw some medieval torture vids on NutTube once.
No way I last a minute.
