Resolve, Supplies, and Strategy: Victory Assured - 1
Lisa bit her lip hard. Waves of war were crashing in. Waves that seemed impossible to withstand with their old methods.
Water is abundant, but... She'd received far too much from him. Countless people had been saved by that water. But abundance couldn't last forever.
Lisa Martinez and her Rangers possessed infinite wealth. But it truly couldn't be infinite. No matter how much "tradable" goods an organization had, turning them into something meaningful required trades. And trades meant hauling water directly to distant regions, with no small losses along the way.
Moreover...
Finding "tradeable organizations" nearby was no easy task. The population was sparse to begin with, and trading with cannibals, beast packs, or monsters was out of the question.
Haa... And waiting for her was the strongest foe among them.
Devil's Descendants... Devil-like humans who roamed this wasteland, plundering every building and hunting for fresh victims.
Her patrols had caught their eye. The considerable amount of water they carried had made them prime targets.
I have no idea how they learned our situation... but I can't worry him.
It was plentiful. The Rangers following her already received more generous water rations than the headquarters patrol elite.
Without his support... It was aid she hadn't dared hope for. Even now, Lisa couldn't explain to others why she received such abundant water from him. In the villages cooperating with them, some already revered her as a divine apostle, the Trading Post as a temple, and the unknown provider of water as a god.
Lisa freshened up. She washed her body and straightened her posture.
I-is it... not too awkward? A merchant peddling cosmetics happened to pass through the area. Even in this world, adorning oneself was precious for a woman. Powerful women did it to flaunt their wealth and greatness; those fawning before men did it to catch a strongman's eye.
N-not that my intentions are like that...
Lisa steadied her mind and connected the comms.
"N-no troubles, I hope...? Th-the atmosphere feels a bit different today?"
He let out a flustered chuckle. Lisa's eyes trembled.
"Is it strange? Sh-should I... not do it next time?"
"No. Y-yes, you look pretty. I was just a little surprised."
"What a relief!"
"Then, down to business." As always, he flashed a warm smile. A refreshing grin as clear and cool as the pure water he provided.
"Let's trade first. As I mentioned before, the 'water' volume will be a bit less this time. Needed space for other items..."
"Thank you!"
In truth, Lisa felt uneasy. She trusted him, but in this world, few things matched water's value by volume.
A few or a few dozen bottles short won't cause immediate issues, but... Lisa had prepared contingencies. She'd expanded her forces cautiously. In this world, a faction's "population support capacity" hinged on secure food and water supplies. She'd stockpiled water in safe warehouses—enough to sustain the faction for one or two months without his deliveries.
Even so, water was precious. Their water depot was more vital than armories or barracks. With the water he provided, they could buy most goods. Unless it was something utterly unobtainable in this wasteland, of course.
"Sent. Check it out."
Lisa opened the box. Inside lay items beyond her wildest imagination.
"...Helmets and night-vision goggles."
"Yes. Hard to come by normally, but I recently connected with a good contact and scored some quality gear."
Jeong Isu gazed at his wares with a relaxed smile.
"Unbelievable items. This is...!"
In stark contrast, Lisa couldn't hide her shock.
Real ones. Genuine...!
In the wasteland, this was cutting-edge tech. The Rangers held no edge in "technology," and even headquarters rarely had such rarities.
Night-vision goggles. Something even branch leaders struggle to obtain... After fully stabilizing this regional branch and earning recognition, she might've appealed to HQ for one—maybe.
Yet he'd handed over enough to arm an entire squad.
"Truly... thank you so much."
This was undoubtedly more valuable than water. She wondered if she even deserved it, or what she could offer in return.
"With this, we might dismantle their base. Those filthy bastards..."
"Their base? Are the raiders' outpost nearby?"
Jeong Isu's expression darkened. Lisa hurriedly shook her head.
"Enemies we can handle. I won't trouble you."
"Well, if that's the case... Ah, right. Since I sent those items, mind if I suggest a tactic?"
"Pardon?"
"Of course, you're the one in the field, so you know best. But I've picked up some info that might help."
"...Yes."
Lisa eyed Jeong Isu suspiciously.
He's a good man, undoubtedly capable and great. But...
The battlefield belonged to those on the ground. Not armchair commanders issuing orders from safety. Even brilliant minds botched small-unit tactics in the heat of combat. War was made by real people firing real bullets—not books or classrooms.
She trusted his goodness and competence, but not his strategic insight.
"So—"
But his words were utterly practical. No demands for unavailable resources, no overestimation of Ranger training. A feasible, simple, executable plan.
"...Thank you."
Lisa bowed to the man on the screen once more.
A dark night. In the pitch-black wasteland, Lisa and her squad advanced.
"From now on, total silence. Only essential words, preferably hand signals."
Helmets on, they moved through the gloom.
Good...
Walking wasteland streets at night without light was near-suicidal. Mutated beasts grew fiercer after dark. Raiders camping rough weren't out of the question.
But they pressed on unafraid. No night-eyed beast could traverse this terrain as effortlessly as they did now.
"Objective reached. Disperse."
Her patrols fanned out on command.
50 strong... Every available Ranger. Failure means the plan crumbles.
They could've fielded far more—summoning militia from allied villages.
But militia were militia. Morale and marksmanship paled against Rangers. In dire straits threatening the branch's survival, they'd have scraped everyone for a massive clash.
Escalating with militia meant debts to "allied villages." They weren't as kind or warm as Jeong Isu; those debts would demand repayment someday.
This op succeeded with Rangers alone.
"Squads, disperse."
Her target: The Devil's Descendants' outpost smack in the wasteland heart.
Not some "must-hold fortress"—just a forward base for plunder. Positioned for easy caravan hits: bloodstained merchants or clueless wanderers.
"Move to positions. Deploy 'Christmas trees.' Operation starts."
The raiders weren't unprepared. Sentries lounged sloppily at outposts. Log palisades warded off wildlife adequately.
But Lisa and her Rangers were ready.
North, south, east, west. Her split squads erected pre-fab structures.
Christmas trees. Crude imitations—elongated poles wired with bulbs and cords. Laughable devices.
But on this battlefield, they trusted these to win.
-Devil's Descendants typically defend outposts like...
That man knew more than she'd imagined.
-With the night-vision I sent, you'll dominate in the dark. Raiders are basically ordinary folk. Cannibalism doesn't grant superhuman strength; stabbing humans doesn't toughen skin against bullets.
Human vs. human, gun vs. gun—the side that sees wins decisively.
-Blast something to draw eyes, then pick off movers one by one...
Not flawless or genius. She'd have doubted a grander scheme.
But it was realistic, viable. Exploiting their strengths against enemy weaknesses.
"Positions confirmed. Installations complete."
No easy task. Even prefab, over an hour sweating blind to set up.
Moonless night. Pitch black sans NVGs.
Yet they toiled relentlessly, convinced success meant victory.
"Let's begin."
Lisa smiled, eyeing the sentries. Some gripped rifles properly; others dozed drunk or sprawled.
Night raids thrived on enemy complacency as much as ally prep. Perfect postures for ambushes.
"Ready. Fire on my mark."
Night, but NVGs revealed foes clearly. With this edge, veteran Rangers could sweep them.
"Three, two, one."
She swallowed.
"Fire."
Gun muzzles flashed. Muted by suppressors—no roar, scant flame.
Enemies dropped silently, screams stifled.
"Good."
Lisa allowed a faint smile.